A CONSTABLE has described an “overwhelming stench” from a cannabis farm in her parish that left her “feeling sick”.
During questions to the Environment Minister in the States Assembly regarding the Northern Leaf site at Retreat Farm in St Lawrence, Constable Deidre Mezbourian and other politicians said the concerns of parishioners must be taken seriously.
The minister, Deputy Steve Luce, gave a statement in the wake of criticism of his department by the States Complaints Board over its handling of the medicinal cannabis farm, and a subsequent Planning Committee decision to refuse a retrospective planning application.
While Deputy Luce said the board’s findings about odour from the site were rejected following a detailed assessment, Mrs Mezbourian said she had witnessed the smell as recently as last week.
“I didn’t ‘sniff’ this odour, I breathed it in and it was so strong that I could not step out of the car without the stench overwhelming me and I did feel sick,” she said.
Responding to Mrs Mezbourian’s query about what it would take for the issue of odour to be re-opened, Deputy Luce said this would require a “significant change” to “material considerations”.
Deputy Andy Howell, who represents the St John, St Lawrence and Trinity electoral district, highlighted the enforcement notice regarding chillers used by Northern Leaf, and the retrospective application turned down by the Planning Committee last week. This equipment had been in place, illegally, for four years, she pointed out.
Deputy Luce said the committee’s decision would need to be ratified at the next meeting on 25 September, with the possibility of appeals by other side following this meeting.
Deputy Howell said: “This is making a mockery of the whole thing, it’s been going on for such a long time – an enforcement notice should be enforced.”
Another district representative, Deputy Hilary Jeune, questioned whether the medicinal cannabis industry had been established in haste, without sufficient planning or regard for the environmental impact.
The minister admitted that residents living near the site had genuine concerns, but stated repeatedly that the issue of odour came with a high bar, and that as things stood the matter had been investigated and was now closed.
“I recognise the impact this situation has had on [residents’] lives, the disruption, the distress, and the feeling of being unheard – these are not just complaints, they are heartfelt expressions from people who care deeply about their homes and their community,” he said.
Deputy Luce said that the site had been the subject of extensive scrutiny, and that the “mere presence” of odour did not mean the threshold for statutory nuisance had been met.
While his department rejected the Complaints Board finding around odour, the minister said three other recommendations were accepted: to publish a redaction policy on planning representations; to ensure conflict of interest declarations are embedded in customer policy; and to ensure business interests are not prioritised over impact on neighbours.
Deputy Luce urged residents to take the opportunity to participate in mediation sessions with Northern Leaf, stating that he believed the company was “receptive” to finding a way of moving forward with neighbours and achieving an outcome with which everyone was satisfied.
