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Politicians have dramatically torn up Guernsey Waste’s plans to temporarily stockpile surplus builder's waste at Longue Hougue following a public planning meeting, with the future of what to do with inert waste now in chaos.
Guernsey Waste have been sent back to the drawing board with just a matter of months before the void at Longue Hougue north is filled with inert waste, which has been ongoing since 1995. It’s only because States members have consistently failed to agree on a permanent site to dump inert waste that the necessary and temporary stockpiling solution was proposed.
Planners backed its application to temporarily stockpile the waste on the land nine metres high pending a decision from the States but recommended that waste should only be diverted there for three years, with another three years to remove the waste to a final location.
The plan appeared uncontroversial after racking up no public comments until three Development& Planning Authority members – Deputies Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, Chris Blin and John Dyke – all expressed concern in the meeting over the length of time the waste would occupy part of the site and the impact of double handling the waste.
They all voiced support for an alternative idea which would see inert waste used to increase the height of the surface of the reclaimed area while a permanent solution was sought by politicians.
But there was confusion among DPA members when it came to the vote with a lack of understanding whether the application could be deferred if these major changes were subsequently made.
An official then jumped in to explain that a new application would be required if the stockpiling scheme was changed from piling high to raising the level of the reclaimed land.
Critical deputies then changed their position to reject the application, which lost 3-1.
DPA President Deputy Victoria Oliver voted to defer a decision to change the timeframe in which stockpiling would be permitted, while the Vice-President Deputy Andy Taylor voted in favour of the plans.
He said “there is clearly a failure within government that is resulting in the need for stock-piling inert waste.
“It would be easy to make alternative solutions, and for a Deputy that might almost be expected, but I think to do so would be prejudicial to the applicant who, rightly or wrongly, are where they are.”
Deputy Oliver said the DPA will work with Guernsey Waste to find a solution.
Relocating stockpiled inert waste could cost between £400k - £900k
Planners say inert waste stockpile should be approved
Inert waste could be piled nine-metres high at Longue Hougue
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