CAMPAIGNERS seeking to bolster the protection of agricultural land against ground-mounted solar developments have hailed the “very strong message” sent by politicians after a proposition – stemming from a paper petition signed by hundreds of people – was approved.
The proposition, brought forward by St Brelade Deputy Montfort Tadier in the wake of a paper petition signed by more than 800 people, initially called for the States Assembly to agree that the prohibition of ground-mounted solar developments on agricultural land should be included within the next Island Plan.
Deputy Tadier amended his proposal to instead seek a “presumption against” such installations, citing feedback received from some States Members and the petitioners themselves.
It was approved on Friday, with 23 votes in favour and 19 votes against.
The other two components of the proposition were also successful, requesting that the next Environment Minister considers strengthening protections for the loss of agricultural land to solar ground mounts and that the next Infrastructure Minister to bring forward a policy to promote the installation of solar panels on suitable States-owned buildings.
One of the petition’s organisers, William Layzell, said: “It was a fantastic discussion in the debate in the States, which is one of the things that we desperately wanted to happen,” added that the campaigners had “wanted the level of conversation about solar and about renewables to be elevated”.
“To see that happening in the Chamber was just fantastic, because you understandably had Members who were on both sides, some for, some against – but then they had a good debate amongst themselves.”
In particular, he noted comments made by Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache, who raised questions around the legality of such developments in relation to the Agricultural Land (Control of Sales and Leases) (Jersey) Law 1974.
Reflecting on the outcome, Mr Layzell said the debate had sent a “very strong message” that “green fields should be protected and should not be looked at as an option for putting solar panels on before all other options have been explored and exhausted”.
“We’re obviously incredibly pleased about it.”
