GE 'not after commercial gain through property development'

DEVELOPING its Vale Avenue properties could 'distract the company from its core activity of electricity supply', Guernsey Electricity has said.

The States-owned utility responded yesterday after Environment board members rejected its application to demolish the four derelict properties.

It faced criticism from neighbours angry that GE had allowed 1, 2, 3 and 4 Vale Avenue to fall into such disrepair.

But Guernsey Electricity corporate strategy director Sally-Ann David said demolishing the houses would not have been the end point and the company made the application in the wider interest.