News you may have missed

The need to conserve water, calls to reduce the age of riding a bike are still legal and plans for new homes that must have a parking space are among the stories you may have missed this week.

Here are five pieces from Channel Island from the past seven days.

Jersey cows help grow dairy products in Nepal

Jersey cows are helping Nepalese farmers improve the quality of their milk in a program described as a “real success story”.

The genetic material is exported to the country so the cows can be bred to help improve dairy production in a project supported by Jersey Oversesh Aid, Project Heicer and the Royal Society.

Sara Peeters, from the Jersey Netherlands, said the project would help improve the lives of Nepalese farmers who would be able to offer “better milk at higher prices”.

Call the legal age for e-bike riders

The President of Guernsey’s Environment and Infrastructure Committee says he wants to see the age at which children can ride electric bicycles (e-bikes) on lowered roads.

Currently, the minimum age to ride an e-bike is 14.

Deputy Adrian Gabriel said he would like to see it reduced to 12 years, or the age children go to high school.

Call to reduce Showlers as Water Reserving dip

People in Jersey are being urged to take urgent measures to reduce their water use as reservoir levels continue to fall in months of dry weather.

With rainfall 30% lower than last year and 20% below the five-year average, water storage on the island has dropped to 57% capacity, Jersey Water said.

The utility restarted its abatement plant to help increase supplies and asked residents to make small changes such as reducing strokes to avoid restrictions.

All new homes are set to have a parking space

Jersey politicians have voted to approve plans that will mean every new home built will have a parking space where possible.

The proposals were put forward by Constable Simon Crowcroft who argued that the current planning guidelines were discriminatory in providing parking spaces for new homes in St Helier.

Deputy Environment Minister Steve LUCE described the plans as “disastrous arguments” that would make homes more expensive.

Going ‘deeper than we’ve ever seen’

Gunnsey’s fishing industry is facing a downturn “deeper than we’ve ever seen” according to a veteran fisherman.

Mick Guille, who has spent decades working in the industry, said the burn rate is unlike anything his peers have.

“We’ve gone to the heights and we’re still young … but no one has seen fishing as it is now,” he said

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