P&R ‘has yet to consider harbour plans’

That is the view of Stuart Falla, who is a non-States member of the States’ Trading Supervisory Board and chairman of Guernsey Ports.

Policy and Resources has yet to comment in detail on the multi-million pound plans but its treasury lead has reacted cautiously so far.

STSB this week published its proposals to develop the ports, recommending that the States agrees to commit around £350m. to build a new harbour at Longue Hougue south, carry out repairs at the current harbours and take commercial activity away from St Sampson’s harbour, leaving it as a leisure-only facility.

Mr Falla was hopeful that politicians would get behind the proposals to prepare the harbours for future demands.

‘Although there is some money to be spent on more urgent repairs, we see this as a ten-year project with the majority of the expenditure coming when construction begins,’ he said.

‘We don’t want the States to be frightened to commit to an expenditure when finances are in poor shape.’

This project would not just prepare the island for the future, he said, it would prove that the States had confidence in the island which might encourage investors to do the same.

‘Supporting this proposal would be the States saying: “We are confident about our future so you should be confident about our future too”.’

Policy & Resources treasury lead Deputy Mark Helyar said the committee had not had the opportunity to consider the proposals from STSB in enough detail to comment on specific questions around funding.

‘It is important a distinction is made between revenue and capital expenditure, but certainly public finances are under significant pressure,’ he said.

‘And certainly all government decisions need to be made with both the cost implications and the relevance to the wider Government Work Plan in mind.’