People living near the proposed Saltpans development sites have still got serious concerns over the volume of housing to be built there.
A meeting held by the St Sampson’s Douzaine last week found that residents generally accept that a new road will be built in the area – but concerns over the number of properties planned for the former vinery site, coupled with other planned developments – have not been addressed, the parish officials have said.
The Douzaine hosted the meeting last Wednesday and said afterward that it “needs to consider the opinions presented at the public meeting before formulating a detailed response to the Outline Planning Application”.
“Understandably, emotions were running high and many residents were rightly concerned about the level of proposed development in the area and how the proposed new road might integrate into Saltpans Road, both in order to serve Franc Fief and at the eastern most end,” the Douzaine spokesperson continued.
“There was, however, a general acceptance that a new road, in some form, is an essential prerequisite if large volumes of housing are to be built in this area without negatively impacting neighbouring roads.
“The urgency for some new housing is not disputed, but there needs to be greater consideration of the impacts on existing residents arising from such significant levels of development in St Sampson and whether densities can be reduced in some areas.
“There was considerable frustration amongst attendees at the reluctance of the States through the approved policies of the Island Development Plan to share the burden more equally with other much less developed and trafficked parts of the island.
“Accordingly, the Douzaine will continue to argue in the strongest possible terms for existing and future housing allocations within the Island Development Plan to be more fairly distributed across the island.”
The St Sampson’s Douzaine has previously said that it has been ignored when it has previously raised concerns over the level of development in the parish.
In a further comment to Express, Junior Constable Joe Abbott said that parishioners have told the Douzaine they remain concerned about the level of housebuilding on their doorsteps.
“We have had several parishioners commenting and complaining about the proposed road layout and the exits,” he said – specifically referring to the plans for the Saltpans vinery site.
“With the two proposed exit seemly right by residents’ driveways how safe will this be? Should the exits be moved to a possible safer site?”
Now the public meeting has been held, the Douzaine said it will ask the Development and Planning Authority to extend the public consultation on the traffic network proposals to allow affected residents more time to consider the plans and then have their say.
Currently, comments must be submitted by Tuesday 22 July.