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A St. Helier Deputy has agreed to withdraw a proposal to build on three fields in Grouville after being asked to by their legal owner, Deputy Carolyn Labey, Express can confirm.
Deputy Scott Wickenden said he had been asked by the owner of the fields off Grande Route de Sablons to put them forward for rezoning in the draft three-year 'Bridging Island Plan' (BIP).
He lodged an amendment last month calling for fields G403C, G403D and part of G432A to be added to the list of sites for affordable houses.
Deputy Labey initially said the fields belonged to a family member but later clarified her position to say that she was the ‘reversionary owner’ of them, meaning she was the legal owner but someone else had lifetime enjoyment of them.
A potential conflict of interest arose because Deputy Labey has lodged a separate amendment to the BIP calling for a nearby field to be withdrawn from the Environment Minister’s list of green-zone land earmarked for housing.
Concerns were raised that, should Deputy Labey succeed in getting field ‘G329A’ removed from the BIP, it could increase the likelihood of fields she legally owns being selected for affordable homes.
Pictured: An image of field G329A taken last May included in Deputy Labey's amendment seeking to withdraw it from the Bridging Island Plan.
This afternoon, Deputy Labey confirmed that she had written a letter to Deputy Wickenden asking him to withdraw his amendment, which he has now agreed to do.
In it, she said: "I fully appreciate that any elected member of the States of Jersey has every right to bring forward any proposition or amendment that they wish to be debated before the States Assembly.
“I also appreciate that you live in our soon-to-be-created super-constituency of Grouville and St. Martin, so have a special interest in its welfare.
“It is therefore with reluctance that I write to you to ask you to consider withdrawing your amendment 66 to the Bridging Island Plan debate."
Pictured: The Deputy of Grouville's letter to Deputy Wickenden.
It continued: "The reason for this request is because I have an interest in the fields you are putting forward, with ownership eventually reverting to me at some unknown (and hopefully long-distant) point in the future."
“This of course makes me unable to take part in the debate, but also I think renders me incapable of pursuing my own amendment - the withdrawal of field G392A from the BIP - because its success would potentially influence the success of your own amendment, in which I have an interest.
“This would then mean I am unable to fulfil my primary duty as Deputy of the Parish, ie to represent the concerns and interests of my constituents.
“I have listened to the concerns of my Parish, and I share their widely-held view that field G392A - along with two other fields in the area G355 and G358 - are not suitable for development.
“I wish to put these views forward on behalf of the Parish (and indeed the Island), and to participate in this important debate as we try to balance the character of our island with the housing needs of our children, without any suggestion that I am doing so encumbered by a conflict of interest.
“I really hope you would be kind enough to appreciate my position in this matter and consider withdrawing your amendment 66 to the BIP.”
Deputy Labey said that she now considered the matter closed and would not be making any further comment until the BIP debate.
CLICK TO ENLARGE: Ringed fields are those that were proposed for development. Deputy Labey is the 'reversionary owner' of fields G403C, G403D and G432A.
The proposed development in Grouville - and the parish Deputy and Constable's interest in some of the fields - was due to be discussed at a Parish Assembly meeting next week after parishioners including former Bailiff and Senator Sir Philip Bailhache signed a requête.
The debate on the BIP is due to take place on 14 March.
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