The Chefs Tenants du Fief de la Reine, the group who administer Grouville Common, admitted they had been ‘caught with their trousers down’.
They had not thought that planning permission was required for Crown land.
But when the chairman of the management committee of the Chefs Tenants, Rod Amy, checked with the Receiver General he found that the Crown had voluntarily submitted to the new Planning Law and the pitch was therefore in breach of planning law.
‘We acted in good faith, and we were taken aback when we realised that we had to apply for permission.
It was not very good timing, but it is just one of those things.
We hope that Planning will agree that it is a useful addition to the recreational facillities in the Island.
A pétanque club has already been set up in Grouville and its members are using the pitch despite it not being finsihed yet,’ he said.
Mr Amy has therefore submitted a retrospective application, which the department are currently considering.
