Greenbelt fears over development law changes in Alderney

Thursday 01 February 2018

A law change in Alderney is worrying residents who fear it could lead to developments encroaching on greenbelt land.

Hundreds of people wrote letters of objection to the Building Development Control Committee but it is pushing ahead with proposed law changes under the island's Land Use Plan.

A policy letter from the BDCC says it intends to revise Alderney’s Greenbelt protection, in particular by looking at S7 of the Land Use Plan.

Nigel Dupont is among the 320 residents who expressed their concerns while just three letters are believed to have been submitted in support of the policy letter.

Mr Dupont told Express' Alderney based reporter that he thinks a decision has already been made and there could be major developments allowed on Alderney's greenbelt: "Mr Birmingham, Chairman of the BDCC, has made it clear in no uncertain terms he wants the law changed".

He continued: "We've had a law in place for 50 years that has prevented the island from being over developed in the greenbelt. This is why we still have beautiful beaches, countryside, cliff paths to walk on and we don't cross peoples' land and we don't come across private buildings or big industry because it is simply not allowed to happen in our greenbelt.

"I think the majority of the people that live on this island would say that's how they want it to remain. If there is to be major projects and development they should have to happen within the building areas and not the greenbelt. I think the States should be focusing on that and not opening up the greenbelt for all and sundry to exploit".

Pictured: Fort Essex in Alderney (file image) 

Mr Dupont said it isn't development he is worried about, but rather "over development":

"Before they know it they will have lost control and this island will be unrecognisable. I think people come to Alderney because of what it doesn't have and that's the attraction. It's so difficult to market 'nothingness' but it's that that brings people back, time and time again. The fact that it's just beautiful, wild, open. We don't have to pay to park down by our beaches, we don't get ripped off by having to go through someone's private back yard to access the beach or a cliff path. All this could disappear in a heartbeat if this law is changed and that's my biggest concern, my biggest worry". 

Pictured above: file image of Alderney