Jersey In Peril - November 2009

THE ZEPHRYUS DEVELOPMENT- UPDATE

Save Our Shoreline are pleased to confirm that they are engaged with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process regarding WEB's proposed ZEPHYRUS development. As promised, Planning and Environment have provided SOS with full copies of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and supporting Appendices. SOS members are currently digesting the implications of WEB's plans and will feed appropriate comment into the planning process in good time.

Recognising that waterfront construction in contaminated tidal environments will likely continue West of Albert for years to come, SOS are determined to ensure that experience gained from every excavation into toxic landfill correctly informs any next proposed development, as regards best practice. SOS understand that useful pollution monitoring data were collected during recent operations on the Castle Quay site. Plus, that WEB hold material relating to an investigation of eutrophication in St Aubin's Bay undertaken on their behalf by a post-graduate student in 2006, which might also usefully assist planning deliberations. Please see here.

SOS view recent communications with Planning and Environment as encouraging. Wth a new EIA process in place, it has to be hoped that in future, supervision of large scale waterfront development in hazardous shoreline zones will be more rigorous. We currently await Bioscan (UK) Limited's verdict on the EIS relating to the Island's new waste incinerator, the conclusions of which we trust will be both understood and embraced by all relevant parties. We are also currently reviewing plans for major capital works on the North Jetty of St Aubin's Harbour.

Fully aware that SOS are just one of a number of vocal groups airing concerns about ongoing intrusive coastal development, we eagerly anticipate the overdue reformation of Jersey's Ramsar Steering Group - in our view the ideal forum to encourage considered, informed dialogue on the future appearance and health of our shorelines.

LATEST SCRUTINY HEARINGS:

1: TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES:
On Friday 18th September, the Scrutiny Environment Panel members and their consultant, Mr Rob McInnes, questioned the Minister of Transport and Technical Services, Constable Michael Jackson and his Assistant Minister, Deputy Kevin Lewis, on the Planning Process relating the 'Energy from Waste' Plant and on Ramsar. John Richardson, Deputy Chief Executive, Chief Minister's Department, was also questioned, as were Will Gardiner, Director of Waste Strategy Projects, and John Weatherby, Managing Director of Fichtner Consulting Engineers.

The full transcript can be found here.

2: PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT:
Later that day, The Scrutiny Panel questioned Deputy Planning Minister Deputy Rob Duhamel, and senior Department Officers including Andrew Scate, Chief Executive Officer, Planning and Environment, William Peggie, Assistant Director, Environment and Protection, Sarah Le Claire, Assistant Director for Environmental Policy and Awareness, and Richard Glover, Principal Planner, Planning and Environment.

The full transcript can be found here.

SOS provide a link to the AECOM Environmental Statement For WEB's Residential Scheme (ZEPHRYUS) HERE (NOTE: 6MB pdf download)

SOS quiz of the month:

Click on the picture to the right (after first guessing where it was taken).

If you have any photos taken on our shorelines that concern you, please send them to us at the contact address below, and we will investigate and publish them.

Save Our Shoreline
working to protect our marine environment.