‘Infrastructure will not cope as bay is popular already’
VALE parish is concerned about plans to set up a kayak and paddle board business at Les Amarreurs.
States Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services has made a planning application on behalf of a private business to establish more regular water sports at the popular beach.
But the parish is concerned that the bay might become too popular, with additional traffic and parking problems.
The douzaine was due to discuss the application last night.
‘The application envisages up to 30 people taking part in two or three separate sessions a day. That’s potentially an extra 90 car movements as they come to the area in the peak months and the infrastructure can’t cope. Existing users risk being displaced and it could be chaos,’ said junior constable Bill Cohu.
‘Les Amarreurs is already a very popular area and the car parks are used extensively by beach-goers, fishermen, walkers and people taking children to the play area.’
Parking spaces would be lost to trailers and storage if the application proceeds and Mr Cohu said this would put ‘too much pressure on an already overcrowded area’.
Fishermen who use the area are also worried about the loss of parking and the planning application has already noted parking, traffic and environmental concerns.
Mr Cohu said that up to 30 boats are moored in the bay and owners needed access to use them and access their crab and lobster pots as well as for recreation.
‘The last thing we want to do is put obstacles in the way of someone else trying to make a living and taking advantage of the water sport opportunities offered by Grand Havre,’ he said.
‘But this hasn’t been thought through properly.’
The parish appears to be shifting towards a compromise that such water sports gear should be kept in the car park serving Ladies Bay.
‘I agree there are benefits from organised kayaking and paddle-boarding here, but the authorities should put the infrastructure in place first,’ Mr Cohu said.
‘The toilets are already inadequate and so is the parking now, without attracting extra people to the area.’
But Economic Development president Deputy Neil Inder said on social media that he hoped the parish and the authorities could find a solution.
‘Any sea-based activity should be welcomed and facilities provided,’ he said.
‘Fitting slap bang into the blue economy aspirations.’
