Guernsey Press

Derelict hotels could blight our island, advocate warns

A BLIGHT of derelict hotels could become a common sight if the draft Island Development Plan is adopted, tourism representatives have warned.

Published

Tourism was the latest issue to be discussed in the round table planning inquiry hearings at Les Cotils.

Currently tourism properties can have a change of use, if a set of strict criteria is met. This has been seen recently with the Manor Hotel and Green Acres.

But following recommendations from Commerce and Employment, this clause was removed, meaning only properties which cannot reach a single star rating can have a change of use, regardless of the viability.

This is due to the department aiming to increase tourism from 300,000 to 400,000 visitors a year.

Advocate Peter Ferbrache, representing the Vista Hotels, said the scheme was wholly impractical.

'It's hopelessly aspirational and means there will be many places in Guernsey that will close and they will be a blight on our countryside and landscape,' he said.

He warned that derelict greenhouses were already scattered throughout the island because of misguided planning rules and this plan would result in hotels going the same way.

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