Call for Longue Hougue plans to be revised due to virus pandemic
MOVES to create a new inert waste site south of Longue Hougue will be put on hold if two States deputies have their way.
A sursis has been laid to send Environment and Infrastructure and the States' Trading Supervisory Board away to reconsider their proposals in the light of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The two committees have a policy letter due to be heard by the States this week that seeks approval to direct the Development and Planning Authority to prepare plans for a local planning brief for a new inert waste facility.
But these proposals were prepared before the island went into lockdown, and the sursis, from Deputies Neil Inder and Lester Queripel, wants Policy & Resources to prepare a report setting out the island's financial position as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and to suggest priority projects.
At the same time, the deputies want E&I and the STSB to come up with revised figures on inert waste projections as a result of the economic downturn and revised costs for the project.
The total cost of the project in the report is estimated as in the region of £45 million.
'Given that we are in a new era, we have to wonder if we can’t get a better deal,' said the deputies in their explanatory note.
'We have existing capital from the good times and the buyer (the public of Guernsey) should be demanding a squeeze on the supply chain.'
While some might say that this would be an 'economic enabler or post-Covid stimulus', they argue that this would not be the case since marine projects of this size were generally out-sourced to non-local companies: 'In any event, all capital projects, going forward should at least whole or in part be benefitting the local economy.
'We have grave doubts whether this would be one that would fit into any future terms.
'There is an expectancy that there needs to be a review of capital projects with a view to prioritisation and that is a debate that hasn’t been had. That is no criticism of Policy and Resources given the extreme workload they are under; it’s just that it hasn’t happened yet.
'We are of the view until that has happened, until we know what is priority, we are not in a position to proceed with this project.'
