'Sewage-in-sea fallout risks harming tourism'

VISITORS could start turning their back on Guernsey if they know the island continues to pump sewage into the sea. That's the stark warning

from tourism head Chris Elliott following an investigation by BBC nature programme Countryfile.

The show, broadcast at the weekend, launched a scathing attack on the island for the way it deals with sewage and compared it with Jersey, which adopted full treatment about 15 years ago.

Mr Elliott, marketing and tourism director at the Commerce and Employment Department, said bad publicity about the island's sewage treatment could damage the tourist industry.

'We all know that how we deal with the island's sewage is already high on the States agenda,' he said.

'The problem with stories of this kind is that they risk putting some visitors off coming to see us.

'Previous campaigns by Surfers Against Sewage didn't significantly affect the visitor economy, but if they do, then it means less money coming into the island and, ultimately, potentially less money for Guernsey to spend on the solution.'

Richard Hardy of campaign group SAS blamed bacteria in the water for the frequent ear, nose and throat infections suffered by those involved in the sport.

He added that the States had been 'dragging its feet' since agreeing in 1997 to improve the system.

Deputy David De Lisle, who said he was speaking personally and not as Environment minister, said the island needed to act quickly.

'We have to clean up and enter the 21st century on environmental issues and take responsibility,' he said.

'Raw sewage continues to be pumped out to sea. Environmental issues like this one are key to Guernsey's future. The new tax policy, zero-10 and going for growth will see us pumping even more out to sea in the future and the problem will become worse.'

It said it was not right to leave cleaning up the island to future generations.

'We don't want our beaches to fall below standards.

'And water quality is key to safe swimming, surfing and water sports generally. Only four of our beaches are recommended by the Marine Conservation Society.

'Until we can safely swim in Belle Greve Bay and pass by Creux Mahie 'outfall' without noticing the stench, we have a problem.'