Ronez talking to model fliers, shooters over quarry impact

RONEZ has already shown ‘good community spirit’ in its preparations to quarry the Chouet headland, the president of the Model Flying Club has said.

The Torrey Canyon quarry, which contains oil removed after the 1967 tanker disaster off the Isles of Scilly, is States-owned and not in plans by Ronez to open a quarry at Chouet, but it could be considered in a few years’ time.(Picture by Adrian Miller, 19737996)

The firm is set to start exploratory drilling on Monday as part of its plans to establish the quarry.

The model aircraft fliers and the Guernsey Pistol Club are both based on the headland, and could be at risk of losing their sites as the quarry expands.

But both Mike Burton, the model flying club’s president, and a spokesman for the pistol club said that Ronez had approached them and been very helpful so far.

‘Ronez had the courtesy to approach the club and explain what was going on, and the club will be working with them during the process,’ Mr Burton said.

The pistol club’s spokesman said: ‘Management at Ronez has been consulting with the club about its plans for the Chouet headland and we look forward to continuing those discussions to protect the long-term interests of our sport in Guernsey.’

Roc Salt, the restaurant which is situated nearby, said it did not want to comment on the project at this stage.

‘When we submit a planning application it will be to quarry just the land owned by Ronez, this excludes the Torrey Canyon quarry, which is on States-owned land,’ Steve Roussel, general manager of Ronez, said.

Full story in today's Guernsey Press