The party was buffeted by force eight winds and torrential rain – but both parties came away energised at the prospect of what the Bridge could look like decades down the line.
‘This is an exciting project that has the regeneration of the Bridge at its heart. You can’t help but be excited at the scale of its vision,’ Sir Richard said.
He joined Guernsey Development Agency chairman Peter Watson, board member Simon Kildahl and programme lead and chartered mechanical engineer Louis Le Poidevin on a walk from Mont Crevelt along South Side and across the Bridge to Vale Castle.
They outlined the 20-year plan of work, including the installation of key flood defences at the mouth of St Sampson’s Harbour – a vital piece of work which is crucial to the future protection and preservation of the Bridge and surrounding areas.
This would mean the relocation of all commercial boats from St Sampson’s Harbour, freeing up Griffiths Yard and Abraham’s Bosom for the development of housing and leisure space.
The GDA believes that there is a distinct opportunity to leverage the blue economy and the island’s geographical location to generate a valuable, and currently untapped, revenue stream for the island.
The new marina it is proposing for the Bridge would be great for visiting yachts and offer boat storage for hundreds of vessels, offering distinct opportunities for the marine industry to expand around these services, upskilling and diversifying the island’s workforce in the process.
Sir Richard was also offered a site visit of the land reclamation site at Black Rock, approved by the States last year.
When and if it goes ahead, it would see the rocks to the north of the mouth of St Sampson’s Harbour used as the foundation for land reclamation, using the island’s growing mound of inert waste currently stockpiled at Longue Hougue.
The reclamation site would be primarily used for much-needed housing and integrated with the Bridge via green walkways and cycle paths.
It would also incorporate green spaces and leisure facilities such as a slipway and bathing pools.
Mr Watson said: ‘It was a pleasure to outline our plans to His Excellency. This is a bold and ambitious project which, if delivered, would completely regenerate the Bridge.
‘We are committed to open and transparent communication about our work, and we look forward to sharing more about our vision with the public over the course of this year.’
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