Guernsey Press

Transforming seafront ‘could take a decade’

THE incremental process of seafront enhancement could take up to 10 years for widespread change to the face of St Peter Port, according to the Seafront Enhancement Area Steering Group tasked with the job.

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Deputy Barry Brehaut. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 26616144)

Environment & Infrastructure president Barry Brehaut, speaking yesterday on the eve of preparation for the main phase of the seafront enhancement programme, said possible major infrastructure changes in renewables, fishing industries and transport would probably take a decade to come to fruition.

‘Many people look at St Peter Port’s seafront and think, well, what can be changed? Where would you change it? However, if you begin to look at the granular process, looking at one thing at a time, changes start to crop up all over, which all add to enhancing the area,’ said Deputy Brehaut.

Despite the programme looking set for the long run, the steering group believes major enhancement is very achievable in this time frame.

‘The harbour as it is now was built over a century ago and it was built to last a century. What we need to do is build new infrastructure with the same aim – to build to last.’

The group says it is in ‘listening mode’.

Having already formed its intentions with the input of relevant stakeholders, it wants to highlight that islanders do have the opportunity to voice their ideas.

The group is looking at possibilities of increasing the socio-economic output of the harbour and would like input here too.

‘Some of the changes made will be down to the States,’ said Deputy Brehaut. ‘However, larger infrastructure will require the assistance of developers. We as the steering group have to look out for any potential there and we are just at the beginning of that process.’

During the course of 2020, more details on how the steering group intends to progress this main phase will be released.

Deputy Brehaut added: ‘We now need to look at the much bigger task of how we develop the seafront as a whole to achieve the many ambitions we and the community have. Our seafront is one of the jewels in the Bailiwick’s crown and we mustn’t lose what makes it special, but there is no doubt it is has unrealised potential and it’s time we got on with doing something about that.’