Sueco fights to keep marquee

outside catering company Sueco has launched a petition to fight to keep its Icart cliff-top marquee up for the summer.

New laws introduced in April mean the award-winning business must formally apply to the Environment Department for a licence for each event, which managing director Peter Yates said made life impossible.

He said the marquee, which is used for charity functions, weddings and corporate events, would have to be dismantled and erected each time.

That would be far too expensive, he said, and would force its permanent removal.

'We are appealing against this new legislation, but if it is to go ahead we believe it will deprive islanders of a great service in a wonderful location,' said Mr Yates. 'It is a stunning place for a bride to have her big day and our facility introduces so many visitors to the beauty of the south coast with the minimum impact on the environment.'

Mr Yates has received only a handful of complaints in six years, he says. He holds a dozen events per summer, he said, and always adheres to conditions imposed by the Royal Court.

He thought Environment had received only a few objections to the position of the temporary structure, which centred on the visual impact of the marquee, the alleged misuse of agricultural land and noise and traffic disturbance.

'Our marquee is white, but cannot be seen easily from either Icart Road or the headland,' he argued.

He said it was a benefit to Guernsey tourism because many people flew in every year for weddings and a fair percentage saw those views.