When public and private conflict

That plan was shelved in the face of very considerable public opposition, but a parallel case at Green Island is now the focus of attention.

The owners of a property which overlooks the slipway would like to breach the sea wall to create a driveway. This would allow vehicles to access the front of the property by way of the public slip.

The property owners already have planning permission for this operation – indeed, they secured that permission in 2002. They are also willing to pay £70,000, plus costs, for the privilege of undertaking the work.

The remaining obstacles to the project are the opposition of the Constable of St Clement, Len Norman, and the necessity of securing the approval of the States. This is because the sea wall is owned by the public.

It is clear that the property owners have waged a long campaign to realise their plans, but many will nevertheless side with Mr Norman in opposing what is proposed. Only in the most exceptional circumstances should private interests be permitted to interfere with the integrity of sea defences.

In addition, there would be a cost to the public – albeit moderate – in the shape of lost parking spaces on the slipway. There is also the issue of a precedent being set for similar works in other places.

But in spite of Mr Norman’s legitimate concerns, the property owners have an important ally in the shape of Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf, who has lodged a proposition arguing that the project should be allowed to go ahead.

He has said that he believes that the public interest would not be detrimentally affected, but why such an issue should be of such concern to a leading member of the Council of Ministers is difficult to understand – though ministerial responsibility is no bar to support for apparently minor issues.

When the matter is debated in some six weeks’ time, it will be up to the House as a whole to reach a decision. In doing so, Members must not be lured by the bait of the £70,000 on offer – which is an almost insignificant sum in public accounting terms – but must listen carefully to the parish case, as well as to Senator Ozouf’s argument.