'Protected Coastal Area' Approved

The Environment Minister says a new planning zone will give the highest level of protection to Jersey's coast and countryside.

A 'Protected Coastal Area' will be created as part of the next short-term Island Plan to stop inappropriate and damaging development.

Deputy John Young called it one of most important parts of the plan.

He says it will give the highest level of protection to Jersey's landscape and seascape under law.

"How Jersey looks from the sea perhaps is as important as how Jersey looks from the land going out to sea."

A 'Coastal National Park' was created in the 2011 Island Plan, but it isn't technically a park in law - something that Deputy Young says he's been very unhappy with.

He initially wanted to extend the so-called 'park', but that was met with a lot of anger.

It would have increased the coverage of the park to around 30% of Jersey's land, with the parishes of St Ouen and St Martin seeing two-thirds of their respective areas covered.

Deputy Young says there was a perception that the government was intervening in the use of private land and controlling what people can do, and even though this was proven to be false, he wanted to be very clear that he wanted the island's 'jewels in the crown' to be protected.

"My original proposal, I believe, has been misunderstood. I think my notes I'm asked to say misrepresented and I think it has some quarters, that's probably pejorative, but certainly misunderstood and those harmful comments have done very significant damage to confidence and I want to restore that."

After the original plan was lodged, St Ouen Deputy Richard Renouf was quick to lodge an amendment to establish the park in law and clearly define the park boundaries.

He withdrew that amendment because of his approval of Deputy Young's updated plan.

The Coastal National Park chairman and honorary secretary wrote to States members ahead of the debate, urging for the park to be extended immediately.

Deputy Renouf says while he know they're 'genuine, motivated and passionate', it doesn't give him any comfort.

"The park they envisage is not actually created yet. All we have is that development zone which might be called a park, but shouldn't be.

It's better to do this properly and give greater support to the Coastal National Park. For the present, keeping it within its established boundaries and then we will move forward to do this in a properly legislated way.

So I can support the Minister's amendment by establishing the Protected Coastal Area because it does not extend the Coastal National Park in that drastic way and it avoids those misunderstandings and confusions over what being in a park meant.

Let's not diminish the confusion it caused. In my view, it was quite understandable and concerns were expressed which we absolutely need to take account of and address and at last the Minister's amendment does address it, I believe."

The Coastal National Park will stay as it is.

The 'Protected Coastal Area' amendment was approved by 40 votes to one.

Senator Kristina Moore was the only politician to vote against it.

She said she there was not enough detail about what exactly the area will mean and what will be allowed.

Debate on the Bridging Island Plan  - the blueprint for what can be built and where  - continues in the States Assembly and is expected to run into next week.