A CIDER-MAKING business’s seasonal restaurant is to reopen this weekend after the Environment Minister dismissed a neighbour’s planning appeal.
La Petite Robeline – run by Sarah and Richard Matlock – recently starred in Channel 5 documentary series Jersey and Guernsey.
But the couple have been unable to operate the restaurant so far this summer during the planning appeal period.
Now, Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf has gone against the recommendation of an independent planning inspector to support their application, which Mrs Matlock called a relief.
The inspector, Sue Bell, held a hearing into the issue at the start of June and submitted a report to the minister. The appeal against planning permission should be upheld, she said, as a result of issues relating to traffic and site access, and because some elements of the application were inconsistent with the Island Plan.
But Deputy Renouf stated in the written account of his decision that the restricted and seasonal nature of the restaurant, operating three nights per week from April to September, was complementary to the existing operations of La Robeline, which include making cider and sausages, and represented a diversification of Jersey’s rural economy.
‘A reasoned judgment must be made,’ he stated, ‘as to whether the wider benefits of a proposal, especially in terms of sustainability, promoting innovation within the rural economy and enhancing what is special about the Island, outweigh policy conflicts.’
Planning permission includes a number of conditions, including that La Robeline produces a traffic and site-access plan within nine months, as well as a business plan. Conditions relating to foul water and sewage, closing times, and music – which is not permitted – are also spelled out.
Mrs Matlock said the couple had been pleased to receive the news from the government.
She said: ‘We are very relieved that this seems to be the end of it, but also frustrated that it has taken so long and that we’ve had to close while waiting for the decision.’
Mrs Matlock said that she was awaiting confirmation regarding some final procedural details, but was aiming to open this weekend.
‘We’ve had a great deal of support from customers during this process and a lot of people who want to book in and join us as soon as we get over the last couple of hurdles,’ she said.
A park-and-ride scheme will be in operation as a result of restrictions on car parking on the site at Rue des Bonnes Femmes, with customers transported to the site from Les Laveurs car park opposite Jersey Pearl.
