Deputy Steve Luce, who was replaced by Deputy John Young two months before a proposal from Simon Sand and Gravel Ltd to continue its activities, said that when negotiations with the applicant took place, he told planning officers that the future of the area had to come first.
‘The restoration is going to be the largest environmental scheme we are going to have in the Island for many decades to come and maybe ever again,’ he said. ‘We have got to get it right as we have been allowing sand to be extracted from the site since 2003 under the previous permit and we have yet to see sight of a restoration plan.
‘That should have been in place before the permit to continue extracting sand was granted. If this is going to happen it will take a large amount of work and consultation about what is acceptable. A restoration plan is not just about planting three or four trees, it could become a site that the Island can be proud of to be used by Islanders and visitors alike.
‘This site could become an enormous asset and we have the potential to do a ground-breaking project ,but it is going to need a lot of time and thought – and it needs to be gotten on with.’
However, both quarry owner Jason Simon and Planning say they are discussing the future of the site.
Assistant Environment Minister Gregory Guida said: ‘There is no current agreement on either the content or timeline for the restoration, although this is currently being considered.
‘The conditions of the 2003 permission are still active and can be actioned, should this prove necessary. There are several, widely differing possibilities for restoration and the new Island Plan is a good forum to decide on the most appropriate for the Island.’
The site has been a quarry since 1909 and today comprises 158 vergées between the Five Mile Road and the bottom of Mont à la Brune, including open water of a similar size to St Ouen’s Pond.
While the quarry is located in the Coastal National Park planning zone, which contains a strong presumption against development, it is permitted as it provides an essential service meeting the Island’s demand for sand.
A 15-year exit strategy was agreed in 2003 with the aim of finding a more environmentally friendly long-term solution to supply sand, largely for the construction industry. Planning approval required the company to have a restoration and after-care strategy in place by 2016 but it failed to meet that deadline.
Around that time Deputy Luce said the owner of Simon Sand, Jason Simon, asked if the permit could be extended as a reduced demand for sand because of the fallout from the 2009 recession meant there were reserves to quarry.
The application to extend was approved in August last year on the condition that work stops on 31 December 2023 and restoration must be completed by 31 December 2025.
Mr Simon said: ‘The original planning application in 2003 included a restoration plan and that is what the company is working towards with the Environment Department.’
As yet, he added, there were lots of suggestions for future uses but it had to be ‘something that fits in line with the Island’s Strategic Plan’, though he doubted if the government would buy it.
He also denied claims made to the JEP that the quarry was for up for sale.
Nonetheless, Deputy Guida said the conditions in the planning permit that require works to cease at the end of 2023 and restoration to be undertaken would apply to any new owner.
