Les Beaucamps High: 'make do and mend'

NOT all Guernsey people are happy with plans to rebuild Les Beaucamps High School. Two islanders who attended a meeting to present the proposed plans said now was the time to 'make do and mend' - not spend millions on a new school.

'With careful expenditure, the school could be brought up to a reasonable standard which could extend its life for another 10 years. Get us through this recession and then spend when we have got the money,' said Peter Tilden-Smith, who has lived in Guernsey for over 40 years and works in the building industry.

He was concerned about capital spending in the island, as was James Collings, a software engineer, who was born and grew up here before living off-island. He returned to Guernsey five years ago.

'As a community we cannot afford to have everything we want. The States haven't bothered to maintain it and now it has escalated to a category one in terms of urgency,' said Mr Collings.

'I'm sure there are ways of making do and mend. I don't believe there is a need to spend £35m. We have to cut our cloth to fit.'

But Les Beaucamps High's head teacher said putting off the rebuild was simply not an option.

'I can see what they are saying but it has no validity. The longer we put it off, the more it is going to cost,' said Peter Le Cheminant.

He said, as pointed out in the public presentation earlier this week, if the school were to be kept going it would need £5.5m. spent on it over the next decade to make it wind and water tight.