'What's Guernsey about a Chinese junk?' ask critics
CRITICS have condemned approved plans to convert the former slaughterhouse into an art gallery.
The Arts and Islands Foundation submitted the plans and founder Eric Snell said the harbourfront site would be called the Channel Islands Museum of Contemporary Art.
Part of the scheme involves creating a Chinese junk.
The boat should take 18 months to build on land and a further year to complete in the water.
However, the Treasury and Resources decision to let the slaughterhouse building for two years did not sit well with some, who felt the Castle Emplacement property could be put to better use.
They included Housing minister Dave Jones, who said the slaughterhouse was a perfect location for a new market. 'I still think Guernsey could have a vibrant market and you could put a small market in the building with stalls along the quay. The old market was allowed to fall into disrepair and that was the reason used for its closure,' he said.
'What is the link between Guernsey and a Chinese junk? I am sure it will be very interesting to watch it be constructed, but what is the relevance here?'
