Rally’s future in doubt as opposition starts to grow

The event, which has been running since 2018, has divided the opinions of islanders, and its fate will be decided soon.

One of the event directors, Karl Marshall, said that there had always been people who disagreed with the event, but the problem has picked up more recently.

‘It’s really good event, with about 150 people involved, people come over from Jersey and the UK and it’s something that we look forward to each year,’ he said.

‘We understand that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and not everyone likes it, and everyone is entitled to their own opinions. We just wanted the people who want it to happen to be heard and for it to be a level playing field.’

In a post on the event’s Facebook page, Mr Marshall asked for those in support of the rally to email the constables of St Peter’s, Forest, Castel and St Saviour’s with their representation for the annual event.

With fellow directors Caren Vidamour and Ian Le Page, Mr Marshall met with a parish constable and seven residents from one of the proposed stages of the rally.

Concerns included pollution, noise and risk of damage to the environment.

‘This was a very difficult meeting and one where we were subject to strong negative opinions on the Guernsey Rally and motorsport generally,’ he said.

‘The residents will be appealing against any permissions given to us and suggested that they will be looking to pursue an attempt to stop the rally in Guernsey indefinitely, something which no doubt will seriously affect us, but potentially could also affect other motorsports within the island.’

Each year the rally fills three hotels with visitors, and raises more than £1,000 a year for a selected charity.

In previous years, organisers have had to cancel certain stages of the route, leaving 30 to 40 spectators disappointed that they would miss it.

Castel constable Nick Vining said that the douzaine had received two or three complaints from parishioners about the rally and that it was ‘more of a witch hunt than anything else’.

St Peter’s constable Mike De Laune said that the parish had also received letters from people wishing the rally not to go ahead. He said Martin Ozanne, dean of the douzaine, was dealing with it for the parish.

Mr Marshall said the rally organisers were giving everyone several months’ notice.

‘I made the Facebook post because I wanted to be transparent and let people know that it could go either way,’ he said.

‘We’ve done our bit and now it’s time for Traffic to do their bit.’

The future of the event will be decided by Traffic & Highway Services.

‘We will be considering this in due course,’ a spokesman said.