Guernsey Press

PSD rejects invite to debate alternative sewage treatment

Published

THE team behind a rejected full sewage treatment solution for Guernsey has challenged the Public Services minister to a public debate – an offer that has been turned down.

Environmental Water Services managing director Jerry Pink made details of his company's offer to build a plant public after being told by Guernsey Waste Water that the States was too advanced with its outfall plans to consider any alternative.

He claims the plant would be substantially cheaper than PSD's option of refurbishing the current outfall – claims strongly denied by the department, who say an independent report showed that full treatment was not necessary.

A PSD spokesman said it could see no value in this whatsoever.

'Prior to the States decision in 2012, the department and Guernsey Water staged various public meetings and presentations,' he said.

'All the scientific investigations have been done, all the key points have been considered, discussed, and debated, and we have chosen the most appropriate, least-cost solution for the island. There is nothing particularly new or useful in what these companies have to say.'

Deputy John Gollop said, given the new information, Public Services should put its outfall project, which was approved on 1 August, on hold to investigate the possibility of having a treatment plant further.

'I think PSD should take a fresh look at this and hold workshops with the deputies,' he said. 'Maybe there should be a fresh debate on it.'

Deputy Gollop said members had not been given the full facts and had been 'rail-roaded' down one particular route.

Guernsey Waste Water has argued that it agreed to look at the proposal and quotation only out of 'courtesy' because the States had already agreed in 2012 that the replacement and extension of the outfall was the correct solution.

Deputy Laurie Queripel has also questioned why information regarding the plant was not revealed sooner. However, he thought that there were missing costs in the new quote.

However, Deputy Mike Hadley said the outfall project was the right way forward. He said energy requirements for the plant would be around £800,000 a year and there would be additional maintenance costs and environmental impacts.

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