A GROUP called Passion for Jersey has formed – but it will not be fielding any candidates in June’s election and it actually wants to see less political influence in the area it is passionate about.
The organisation’s primary focus on Jersey’s built and natural environment and, in particular, the planning process which has such an important influence on it.
Passion for Jersey has been founded by Judith Quérée, Paul Craig, Maurice Dubras, Jenni Gare and Colin Pill – who were brought together through their membership of the National Trust but the group is separate to it.
Each with their own expertise and interests, the volunteers meet weekly to assess planning applications – which must be submitted and approved in order for most development to go ahead, from widening a driveway or changing the use of a field to building a billion-pound hospital.
Their backgrounds are diverse: Mr Dubras, for instance, used to be a States Member while Mr Pill is a professional planner. Mr Craig, meanwhile, has a keen interest in historic buildings while Mrs Quérée’s passion was in many ways fuelled by her late husband Nigel, an environmentalist who led the Planning and Environment Committee from 1996 until 2002.
Mrs Quérée said: “We review all the applications submitted to Planning and comment on any which we collectively think our views will help raise the bar. We comment both positively and negatively; for instance, we recently were very supportive of the Blue Note’s recent makeover in Broad Street.
Mr Pill added: “We obviously accept that change and development happens but it is about ensuring that it is done in the best possible way. Most of our members have been reviewing planning applications for a very long time so we have a deep knowledge of what is required.”
Despite their focus on balance and praise where it is due, Passion for Jersey does have concerns: not with the planning rulebook as such – which currently is the varied and often conflicting policies of 2022 Bridging Island Plan – but more with the way the plan is being implemented, complied with and enforced.
It recently, for example, spoke against an application, which was ultimately successful, to build a 155-room hotel at Strive Health Club in St Peter.
The group felt that too many of the Island Plan’s policies had been broken and there had been undue outside pressure. However, both the Planning Department and ultimately the Planning Committee supported the outline application.
“Somebody needs to pick up on these issues – planning officers are not and neither is the committee, so we have to,” said Mr Pill. “We are not saying that you cannot develop in the countryside but for me, the character of development is all wrong, and that is what is hurting.”
Passion for Jersey has so far commented on around 20 planning applications.
“We all get on really well and very respectful of each others’ opinions; we are able to discuss really anything without getting contentious,” said Mrs Quérée. “All we want is to make Jersey a better place to live for all.”
