Earlier this week Deputy Rowland Huelin spoke of his concerns about the Ville du Manoir project, which proposes building homes between St Peter’s Village and St George’s School, claiming it would ‘breach everything’ in terms of planning regulations and could undermine the Island Plan, which sets planning policy for Jersey.
The plans were rejected by former Environment Minister Steve Luce last year for a number of reasons – including that the proposal involved building on high-quality agricultural land.
St Peter’s current Constable, Richard Vibert, has lodged a proposition to revive the scheme, the States debate on which has been delayed to 26 March. Mr Vibert has arranged a Parish Assembly to be held on 14 March at 7pm, where parishioners will be asked to vote on whether the project should continue to be pursued.
John Refault, the parish’s former Constable and long-term champion of the plans, said that Deputy Huelin’s comments about the scheme were contrary to pledges that he made during his election campaign.
‘My ire is directed towards a St Peter Deputy candidate who is recorded on two occasions – the St Peter Deputy Hustings 2018 and vote.je candidates 2018 – stating his support for affordable homes when eliciting votes from the St Peter electorate,’ he said.
‘Most significantly for me, is after eight months in office no attempt has been made by the now Deputy of St Peter to review the tome of evidence and process accumulated over the past four years – four years of working under the guidance on process from a principal planning officer, even after my strong suggestion for him to do so.
‘But of the greatest significance is the total lack of concern or compassion for hard-working young families with strong St Peter connections.’
Under the scheme, which was for 65 three-bedroom houses, Islanders with a connection to St Peter would be able to buy homes at a 25% discount.
Mr Refault added that he felt Deputy Huelin should have fully reviewed the documents relating to the project before his election campaign last year.
‘Was it too much to expect a candidate for a parish with a live planning application of great significance to undertake a review of the independent planning inspector’s report and the Planning Minister’s ministerial decision dated 4th April?’ he said.
‘After all, this was delivered nearly three weeks prior to the hustings and some six weeks prior to the 16 May election day.’
Senator Kristina Moore, Deputy Huelin’s predecessor as Deputy of St Peter also offered criticism.
‘Are parishioners of St Peter as appalled as I am to read in this morning’s @JEPnews [a] volte face of our Deputy?’ she wrote on Twitter.
‘At hustings he claimed to support the affordable housing scheme.’
