Plans have been drawn up for 91 homes – potentially more if a neighbouring vinery site is purchased – by the Guernsey Housing Association, which recently displayed the plans and artist’s illustrations and computer-generated animations to the public.
But although two of the three companies still on the site are putting their trust in the States to find them a new home, none have said they have been given a definitive place to go as yet.
Vaudin’s Stonemasons, which incorporates Guernsey Memorial Masons, has been on the site for some 30 years or more, said its director, Lance Vaudin.
It occupies 6,000sq. ft and he said that even with plans to downsize by up to two-thirds, he had not been able to find a suitable new site. But he said even if one came up now, there would be a problem.
‘We couldn’t move out of here in six months. It’s basically impossible.’
The company cuts stone to order and also recycles old stone to be used in buildings, but Mr Vaudin said on a smaller site that service might not be possible.
He praised a former director of Property Services for his efforts to to help find a new site, but he said assistance had been limited since he had left. He has advertised for a new base without success.
Paul Rouget, director of the plant hire company which bears his name, said that he had been assured by the States Property Unit that a new site would be found to keep his vehicles.
He already has equipment at the recycling site at Longue Hougue. ‘I’d like to go down there so we are grouped together,’ he said. ‘It’d be handy to have everything in one place.
‘We’ve known this site was temporary since we moved in, in 2006.
‘As far as I’m concerned we’re a States tenant and at the end of the day I hope they will find us somewhere again.’
Tony Cullington, director of Sarnia Autos, echoed Mr Rouget’s comments: 'All I can really say is that we are being really well looked after by States Property Unit and they’re doing everything they can to make sure we have somewhere to move to.’
The company handles all of the island’s old tyres as well as dealing with a small amount of scrap metal among other activities.
He said talks with the States over a new site were ongoing.
The Property Unit said in a statement that the site had been earmarked for housing for years and the States had always been open with tenants there.
'We have worked very closely with tenants on this site to ensure they all had considerable notice that they would need to find alternative premises.'
The Unit had helped a some to find a new site.
'We will continue to provide as much support as possible but if a business has still not arranged to move, we would again ask them not to delay any longer, as the site is urgently needed for the development of much-needed affordable housing.’
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