Deputies overturn a decision on the storage of Guernsey's builders' waste

30 deputies have voted to allow a rubble mound to be built at Longue Hougue so that builders' waste can be stored there temporarily for around three years.

The Development and Planning Authority, sitting in an Open Planning Meeting in July, turned down the original application by Guernsey Waste for stockpiling rubble at the St Sampson's reclamation area.

Reasons given for refusing planning permission to a fellow States department were the time period being applied for, the sustainability of the plan and the effect on the eventual redevelopment of the Bridge.

The decision was criticised at the time for being short-sighted, given the States' key priority of house building will itself create more rubble, or inert waste.

The States Trading Supervisory Board, which owns Guernsey Waste, subsequently appealed for politicians to overturn the Planning Authority's refusal.

Deputy Lester Queripel said there was little choice, given space for storage has effectively run out:

"Do we want our construction industry to come to a standstill? And surely the answer to that is no, we don't."

Deputy Victoria Oliver, who heads up the Planning Authority, said there was little that was 'temporary' about the plan:

"Three years piling it up. Three years decommissioning. That's six years. In my view, that's not a temporary amount of time."

At the vote it gained majority support. 30 deputies voted for, seven abstained, two did not vote and one deputy was absent.

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