Victor Hugo centre idea ‘not on seafront plans shortlist’
A PROPOSAL to turn the Guernsey Information Centre into a Victor Hugo interpretation centre has been rejected, one of the men behind the scheme has said.
But he plans to lobby the Seafront Steering Group to think again about the idea.
The building is one of six States-owned sites along the Town seafront that islanders and businesses were encouraged to come up with ideas for last year to try and regenerate the area.
The Victor Hugo Society pitched that an interpretation centre about the French author would be the best use of the site.
Society secretary Roy Bisson said the group was disappointed that the idea had not at least been shortlisted.
Among the proposals for the building were plans for a hotel, a casino and an arts centre, all of which, according to Mr Bisson, have made the shortlist decided by a community panel.
‘Although the society has not been officially told, we understand that a ‘‘community panel’’ has not chosen our project, to create a Victor Hugo interpretation centre, for its shortlist,’ he said.
‘It would appear that the prospect of a hotel, casino, and arts centre – which requires £5m. – are more desirable.’
The Victor Hugo Society intended to raise all funds necessary for its project.
‘We have requested an appearance to address the Seafront Steering Committee in order to explain how important Victor Hugo is and how the maximisation of his reputation can benefit Guernsey’s tourism industry and reputation,’ Mr Bisson said.
He added that they had little time to get together their proposal.
‘For us it came out of the blue, however for others it appears to have been long in the planning,’ he said.
The project proposed by the society centred around attracting French tourists, yacht crews and cruise liner passengers into a centre where they could appreciate Victor Hugo but it would also have meant minimal changes to the existing building.
‘We wanted to gather visitors into an environment where they could be appraised of Victor Hugo, his life, works, family, and exile in the island.
‘This would have meant the retention of the tourist information office and bureau de change.’
Policy & Resources was approached three weeks ago for an update on its work in deciding the future of the sites but has failed to respond. The Steering Group has committed to tangible progress being made by October 2019.
The other sites were Vivier Bunker, La Vallette Kiosk, La Vallette grass verge by the hillside, North Plantation and Round Top Stores.
