Guernsey Electricity fails to convince Vale residents over its security move to close La Hougue Jehannet

The road runs through the middle of the Vale power station site and has been closed since March 2020 following a temporary closure due to security concerns.

Guernsey Electricity now wants to close it permanently.

About 40 people attended Wednesday’s meeting at the Vale Douzaine Room, during which Guernsey Electricity head of engineering and design Jon Sexton made the company’s case for the closure, and took questions from the audience.

‘The security specialist assessments conducted in 2016 and 2019 highlighted the risks posed by an open access road running through the middle of the power station site,’ Mr Sexton said.

‘The reports concluded that the most effective mitigation against the risks that they identified was full closure of the road and the installation of appropriate fencing and gates.

‘We fully support the recommendations to close the road to reduce the risks to the site and supply security.’

Vale senior constable Richard Leale felt Mr Sexton did his best to allay fears surrounding the closure, but those present remained staunchly against the plans.

‘The overall thing got bogged down in discussions about terrorism,’ he said.

‘Realistically, if a terrorist wants the publicity then he won’t choose Guernsey. Personally I have no strong view either way about the closure, but other people are understandably cynical as they feel that steps can be taken to make the road more secure without closing it, such as putting up fences either side.’

Former Vale deputy Mary Lowe questioned why the road needed to close in order to satisfy safety concerns.

‘Jon Sexton did his best, but his answers didn’t satisfy those asking the questions,’ she said.

‘At one point people were asked to put their hands up if they supported the plans and no one did.’

She has identified seven areas around the perimeter of the power station site where access could potentially be gained.

‘If someone is of the mind that they want to gain access then they would be able to.

‘Security problems can be dealt with without closing the road.’

Deputy Chris Le Tissier was the only deputy who attended the meeting.

Vale Avenue resident Pat Thompson said that Mr Sexton had answered questions as best he could, but felt that he should have been joined by Guernsey Electricity chief executive Alan Bates.

‘I think Jon and the Guernsey Electricity board were expecting us to go over to them in groups at the back of the room, but we wanted a Q&A session and to be fair he gave that to us.

‘The security around the site isn’t good enough, but it also isn’t good enough around a place like Bulwer Avenue where the gates are always left open.

‘Does that mean we are going to close Bulwer Avenue too?’