From C Eglington.
HOW sad that the States of Jersey Planning Department only pay lip service towards sustainability.
The fact that over 80 people had requested an allotment on the 60 allotment site put forward by the RJAHS in their field in St Lawrence cut no ice with them.
The ever rising food prices and the obvious needs for many on low incomes to be able to grow their own produce have been ignored. The last time an application for allotments was raised (at La Moye) it was turned down because of the possibility of non-standardisation of the allotment users’ sheds.
The Planning Department is happy to use up any available land or garden for building in St Helier but do not provide for the interests of those living in town. The climate change lobby urge us to think and act local, particularly with regard to growing our own food.
The trouble with that is you have to get past our blinkered Planning Department first. The Planning Department state they have nothing against allotments, but defy logic in turning this heaven sent opportunity down.
There was adequate parking on the site, but an added bonus might have been the possibility of persuading Connex to provide a bus service to this area, a much needed facility which is presently lacking for local residents.
One argument was that the field was too big; it should be used for agriculture. So it would be alright to grow Jersey Royals for the export market, but not for growing vegetables for home consumption. It beggars belief!
It was pointed out to the Planning Department that, as no permanent building on the field was proposed, there would not be any problem in reverting the field back to agriculture should the need arise. Still they wouldn’t budge.
With such a huge interest and obvious need being shown for allotment growing it is shameful that the Planning Department turned the plan for these allotments down.
64 Stopford Road,
St Helier.
