‘We don’t want a blanket ban on events’

The ban on multiple road closures, which will remain in place until the end of next year, has been put in place by E&I after it calculated that such events were taking up hundreds of hours of staff time.

‘We have taken the decision to not accept applications for new events for 2023 and 2024 that required multiple road closures – in this context that means three or more – and where such closures would also need a significant amount of work around, for example, public consultation or reviewing objections and subsequent appeals,’ said Deputy Gabriel.

‘If someone wants to put on a new event that requires multiple road closures but it does not require all the additional work we have highlighted, then it could still be considered.’

He confirmed that the decision would not affect established events that required the same, or similar, traffic measures each year, such as Liberation Day, Seafront Sundays, the hill climb and many charity events.

‘The vast majority of the 150 events organised each year are straightforward for our team to facilitate and we will continue to do so.

‘We are talking about new big events that are complex in nature and require three or more roads to be closed in addition to the need for significant administrative tasks like consideration of objections and subsequent appeals.’

The news was received enthusiastically by Education, Sport & Culture member Sue Aldwell, who led on organising this year’s Liberation Day celebrations.

‘Obviously we are delighted,’ she said.

The Guernsey Rally is so far the only victim of the ban, with the event not scheduled to go ahead as planned in 2024.

E&I previously said that more than 200 hours of staff time went on this year’s event, with this figure calculated by taking the estimated hours of staff time to facilitate the rally and using the States administration charge calculation rates.

Guernsey Sports Commission director Graham Chester said that, while losing the rally would no doubt disappoint local motorsport fans and the event’s organisers, he did not think that E&I was against large-scale sporting events being held.

‘I think E&I are generally very pro-sport and supportive, so I wouldn’t hold this against them. It’s a difficult one.’

However, he was critical of the way in which the ban had been communicated by the States.

‘Last week the Tourism Management Board put out a statement about there being a £120,000 grant available for event and activity providers, and then the following day a ban on certain events and activities gets announced.

‘I think it could have been clearer.’