TREE protection proposals have fallen ‘well wide of the mark’, according to the Environment Minister.
As part of the proposed policies, which the minister has vowed to change, work on trees with a trunk greater than the width of a Pringles tube would require planning permission, and it could take the Planning Department 28 days to rule on the application.
Deputy Jonathan Renouf recently announced a two-week extension to the consultation on the proposals to ensure Islanders wishing to comment were able to.
In a letter to the JEP on page 12 today, Deputy Renouf said: ‘In an ideal world, our first proposals would hit the bullseye.
‘In this case they clearly didn’t just fail to hit the bullseye, they were well wide of the mark. I would like to apologise for that, particularly because I know this has caused distress to many.
‘I accept that the policies proposed in the consultation are too tight and would catch too much routine work within the planning system.
‘Therefore, I have committed to changing them, and to working with the tree surgeon and professional gardening communities to correct these deficiencies.’
The Environment Minister, who has faced criticism over the proposed policies from tree surgeons and landowners in recent weeks, reiterated the need for greater protection for trees in Jersey.
He added: ‘It’s important to add that I stand by the need for greater protection for trees, the mandate for which derives from a unanimous vote in the States Assembly last year.’
According to the government, when the revised law is implemented, some work on trees will require permission before it can proceed.
A list of exceptions will specify which type of work can go ahead without planning permission.
The consultation, which ends on 7 May, can be accessed at gov.je/Government/Consultations/Pages/TreeProtectionProcess.aspx.
