Stone quarrying planned for Chouet headland

Environment & Infrastructure has examined the issue and submitted a policy letter for States debate later this year recommending the principle of quarrying aggregate on-island be continued on the north coast headland.

This forms the basis of the committee's favoured option A, quarrying a new site at Chouet to meet the majority of aggregate demand, with additional requirements met through importation.

The committee also assessed a second option, which would see aggregate imported after Les Vardes Quarry is exhausted.

But E&I has come to the conclusion that continuing on-island quarrying would create lower carbon emissions than importing stone, but accepted that it would impact the environment.

‘Although option A has the greatest localised environmental impact, proportionate consideration of the impacts generally against the infrastructure requirements, continuity and security of supply issues, and the significant potential negative economic impacts of importation has led the committee, by majority, to the conclusion that option A is the best option to balance the environmental, economic and social objectives of the States,’ it stated.

‘With proactive environmental protection, restoration and offsetting, the committee, by a majority, considers the most appropriate and least damaging approach for future aggregate supply overall would be to allow on-island extraction at Chouet headland.’

Aggregate is particulate material supplied to the local construction market either as ‘dry stone’ or for use in the manufacture of concrete.

Les Vardes Quarry has provided for the bulk demand of aggregate since 1961, but reserves that can be easily extracted are expected to be exhausted by the end of 2023.

There are no other economically recoverable reserves of stone within the island, other than at Chouet headland, which could create supply for another 35 years.

E&I president Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said her committee had faced a very challenging decision.

‘We take our responsibilities for both the environment and infrastructure aspects of our mandate seriously, so it has been difficult to determine the most appropriate balance between the long-term construction needs of the island, the increased infrastructure burden and cost to residents if material is imported, the localised environmental impact of quarrying, and the additional carbon emissions from importation, for example,’ she said.

‘However, the States must choose one of the two options, because without a continued supply of aggregate, construction in Guernsey would stop.’

She said that the quarrying would not damage the most valuable habitats on the headland.

‘The committee will seek to ensure that where any nature loss – even of lower environmental value – may be unavoidable, the operator restores or enhances areas to a greater equivalent value off site,’ she said.

‘This is increasingly common within the quarrying industry generally, and fits with the States’ endorsement of biodiversity net gain.’

The States will debate the issue, probably in the autumn. If it is approved a draft development framework will have to be finished, and a full environmental impact assessment and traffic impact assessment drawn up.