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A cider-maker in St. Ouen who currently features in a national television series on the island has said that delays in the planning process are “crippling” her business.
Sarah Matlock, who runs La Petite Robeline with her husband Richard, has been filmed as part of Channel 5 series on Jersey and Guernsey, which aims to capture the essence of life in the Channel Islands through some of their characters.
Appearing in the first episode last month, the Matlocks also feature in the last instalment, which is due to be broadcast on Wednesday.
However, the couple are also engaged in a protracted planning process in an attempt to open a season restaurant at their farmstead overlooking L’Etacq.
They are currently awaiting for the decision of an independent planning inspector who last month heard an appeal against planning permission, given in March, to open a restaurant off Rue des Bonnes Femmes from 1 April to 30 September on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Pictured: La Petite Robeline is at the end of a small lane overlooking Mont Pinel in St. Ouen.
The restaurant’s opening is dependent on the outcome of the appeal, which was lodged by a neighbour, who raised concerns about the detail of the application, particularly over parking, noise and light pollution, and the provision for sewage and wastewater.
While not critical of the process, and conscious that the arguments for and against the restaurant were aired at the recent appeal hearing, Mrs Matlock said that with every week that passed, the potential season was being eroded.
She said: “After the appeal hearing, we were told that the inspector’s report would take a couple of weeks. I understand that the Environment Minister [Jonathan Renouf] has said he will deal with the inspector’s report speedily as soon as it arrives.
“It’s now been a month. With every week which goes by, we cannot open and we are losing money.
“It is crippling us and affecting our health. We need a decision as quickly as we can.”
Deputy Renouf – who will make a Ministerial Decision on whether to uphold or reject the appeal once he has received the inspector’s report – said he was still waiting for it.
Mrs Matlock said: “We are receiving daily telephone calls, messages and emails from people asking if there is any news.
“Everywhere we go, we are getting so much support from the public, particularly after the Channel 5 programme went out on 15 June, and we feature again on Wednesday.
“It is also our photo which is being used every time the local press writes an article about the positive effect the programme has had on the Island’s tourism sector. But every week that goes by is another nail in the coffin for La Robeline Cider and for Richard and me. The stress is unrelenting.”
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