Call to compensate for biodiversity lost to quarry

More needs to be done to improve the biodiversity of an area of Guernsey after planning permission was given to create a quarry there, objectors have said.

Planning permission at Chouet was approved with conditions in October 2022 with work to excavate granite due to start at the end of 2024.

The move faced opposition from neighbours, with concerns about noise, dust and vibrations as well as the impact it would have on an area of natural beauty on the island's north-west coast.

Chris Hawdon, a resident in the area, said the quarry was "a general loss of biodiversity, which needs to be compensated for".

He said he wanted more information made public on the biodiversity requirements that were given to quarry operator Ronez.

"We're a nest site for owls, those trees are going to be cut down. We haven't seen much evidence that they have improved the biodiversity," Hawdon said.

Ronez director Steve Roussell said the company was "aware of the concerns" of neighbours before starting excavation on the site.

"We've got a programme in place. We're looking to see how we can actually improve the habitat," he said.

"We've already created a coastal grassland, which is a rarer habitat on the area, just across from the access road.

"We've put up some owl boxes and we've got some other features we're looking to do in the next year in terms of actually improving biodiversity.

"It's going to take time. Biodiversity net gain is something we've made a commitment to but really, that's over the life of the quarry."

Jim Rowles, director of planning for the States of Guernsey, said the provision of a biodiversity strategy and details of a planting scheme were among 36 conditions that had to be met when permission was given by the previous Development & Planning Authority (DPA) for a new quarry at Chouet.

"The previous DPA approved this additional information in 2023 and the planning service is monitoring how these initiatives are implemented," he said.

"If anyone has concerns about any site not complying with its planning conditions, we'd encourage people to contact us in the first instance."

The site is considered the last economically viable location for quarrying on the island.

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