The fields under threat, which are along Grande Route de St. Jean and have been earmarked for affordable homes in the latest Island Plan, are currently home to one of the Island’s two organic herds.
Residents and politicians are fighting to save the fields, which could make way for up to 76 homes. The Island Plan itself identifies them as “strategically highly important”, which has prompted Deputy Mary Le Hegarat to propose an amendment calling for their removal from it.
Pictured: Hannah Curnock, who lives near the threatened fields, has written to Clarence House.
In her letter to Prince Charles, Mrs Curnock writes: “Over the years I have taken a great interest in everything you have achieved with organic farming and your advocacy of wildlife protection and animal welfare standards. Unfortunately, we are having rather a battle over here in Jersey.”
She adds: “Three fields which are deemed strategically highly important for dairy farming have been earmarked for affordable housing.
“The tenant farmer has spent over four years making these fields organic for his Jersey dairy herd and within a few years this could all be concreted over and he will lose his livelihood. His herd is the oldest, established herd in the island and he provides half of the island’s organic milk supply.
“There are only two organic farms on the island and this is one of them. Surely this is what we should be protecting not building over. There is also an abundance of wildlife in these fields with hawks, bats and wildflowers.
Pictured: The three fields are between Grande Route de St. Jean and Grande Route de Mont à l’Abbé, near the St Helier Parish Depot.
“People come up from urban St Helier to walk and enjoy seeing the cows, rural landscape and tranquillity of the area which is important for mental health and well-being. This would be an absolute travesty both for sustainability and the heritage of Jersey with its iconic cow.
“I am hoping that a response from yourself may enable our States of Jersey government to see common sense and find an alternative location on a brownfield site to build these houses.”
The Constable of St. Helier, Simon Crowcroft has already said he will oppose development on these fields, as well as the other site in the parish earmarked for development, just south of Haute Vallée School.
The draft Island Plan, which was launched in April and should be debated by States Members next spring, will define develop in the Island up to the end of 2025.
Normally covering ten years, the plan was shortened to three because of the demands on civil servants’ time in responding to the pandemic.
Among its more controversial proposals is a plan to build on a number of fields around Five Oaks, and support for the expansion of La Gigoulande Quarry in St. Peter’s Valley into a neighbouring field.
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