Deputy considers requete to block Hougue Jehannet closure
A DEPUTY is investigating bringing a requete to the States to block Guernsey Electricity’s proposed closure of the Hougue Jehannet.
Chris Le Tissier was the only deputy to attend a meeting held by the company at the Vale Douzaine Room on Wednesday evening, where head of engineering and design Jon Sexton made the company’s case for the road’s closure and took questions from an audience.
The road runs through the middle of the power station site and has been closed for more than three years following a temporary closure due to security concerns.
Deputy Le Tissier said he was going to speak to HM Procureur imminently for advice about the possibility of bringing a requete.
‘The meeting didn’t convince anyone that closing the road is the right option, there was a lot of scepticism,’ he said.
‘One thing that particularly struck me was that Guernsey Electricity would not take over the road if it was closed, so the taxpayer would still be paying for its maintenance.’
He added that he did not believe the process behind the proposed closure to be very democratic.
‘You’ve got a private company going to court over the closure of a public road,’ he said.
‘If there is sufficient interest in a requete then I will bring one, but there also may be no interest.
‘I need to speak to HM Procureur.’
He hoped to publish further details of his intentions next week.
The parish constables are currently arranging a second public meeting, this time on site at Hougue Jehannet, where Guernsey Electricity will again set out its reasons for stopping people from using the road and to hear any opposition.
No date for that site meeting has yet been set, but a Royal Court hearing has been scheduled for 9 October.
