La Vallette vision ‘needs to be part of Town master plan’
SUGGESTIONS for the future of La Vallette need to be looked at in the context of a ‘St Peter Port master plan’, said the group behind the ideas.
The Fuller Group has released details of an ‘expression of interest’ document it has sent to the States with several ideas for the enhancement of the area from Octopus to the aquarium.
Among the ideas is a restaurant overlooking the bathing pools, a spa and sauna, an adventure playground, water sports and an outdoor cinema.
But the group said it is aware of the problems.
‘A key issue and limitation of La Vallette is the limited space and limited capacity for parking and service areas for business,’ said its media release.
‘Viable solutions do exist to this but this needs to form part of a large town planning solution.’
As a starting point, it is suggested that the States could form a development corporation.
This is envisioned as a public/private company ‘to facilitate the significant investment in public facilities to boast the islands recreational and tourism offering’.
The group’s idea is for the States to contribute freehold land to this development corporation, with the corporation funding the cost of the public spaces. The States would be a partner/shareholder in the development company and would thus benefit commercially.
It would also benefit from the enhancement of the area at minimal cost to the taxpayer while the island’s economy would benefit across the construction, retail, leisure and tourism sectors.
Other elements of the plans would see improved landscaping of the area, and the section of road south of the tunnels being pedestrianised.
‘Potential for zip wire activity would be from the higher cliff levels above the Vallette,’ said the group.
It might also be possible to provide facilities for the launching and storage of boats, but due to the high costs it is suggested that this could be funded via the freeing up of land on the Castle Pier and Castle Emplacement, giving the States the ability to generate alternative income from the areas.
The land use and activities would fall into three categories:
. Public recreational space and facilities, such as the bathing pools, outdoor theatre and water sports.
. Privately operated recreational areas, like the zip wire and treetop adventure, an inflatable water park and the spa, sauna and food outlets.
. Freehold development land, which would include leasing the commercial spaces to business or selling off accommodation on the upper floors of some of the new buildings.
