Meanwhile, Deputy Lee Van Katwyk, who has been steadfast in opposition to the plans, has said he is open-minded about the land reclamation if it proved to be feasible, but not a housing development to follow.
The Vale douzaine has come out strongly against the plans for housing in the area which have been put forward by the Guernsey Development Agency, and indeed, said it was completely against most of the GDA’s masterplan for the whole St Sampson’s harbour area, save possibly for the concept of a road bridge over the harbour to take pressure off the main Bridge road.
The GDA has been rocked this past few days by the resignation of its chairman Peter Watson, who is frustrated at the lack of progress being made.
Speaking before the news of Mr Watson’s impending departure, constable Richard Leale said the douzaine had met with the GDA three times, including being given a tour around the harbour, and had not been impressed at all with the proposals.
At one stage, three douzeniers joined an ad-hoc committee set up by the GDA but Mr Leale said that had proved ‘pointless’.
‘It became very, very obvious from the outset that the plans the GDA put forward are the plans, and they will not countenance any alterations to them in any way, shape or form,’ he said.
The douzaine has accepted that a reclamation project at Black Rock to create open amenity land would be reasonable, but even then they would rather inert waste be dumped elsewhere, not least because of concerns about the impact on tidal flows and even the level of sand at Bordeaux.
It has been proposed that the foreshore to the north of the entrance of St Sampson’s Harbour should be used as the island’s next inert waste disposal site, to be followed by the building of a significant number of new homes on the reclaimed area.
Testing is currently going on to determine whether that scheme would have any adverse impact on tidal flows, or impact navigation into and out of the harbour. Initial results are expected later this year.
Deputy Van Katwyk has previously been vocal in his opposition to the idea of development in the area.
But he is now floating the idea that reclamation at Black Rock could lead to a ‘mini L’Ancresse Common’ below the Vale Castle.
He said that if the tests showed that it was safe to proceed with dumping and reclamation, then he said he would have an open mind on proceeding, accepting that the island needed to find somewhere to dispose of its inert waste and to protect the Braye du Valle from flooding.
But he is unconvinced that building in the area would be needed.
The GDA has argued that its proposals would help in resolving the island’s housing crisis, but Deputy Van Katwyk, vice-president of the Development & Planning Authority, said the current review of the Island Development Plan would make provision for a lot of new housing.
He said his opposition to building housing at Black Rock was based on aesthetic grounds.
‘Guernsey has finite natural beauty, let alone nestled between an ancient castle and a sublime view,’ he said.
The Vale constables stressed they had nothing against the States’ previous plan to use Longue Hougue South as an inert waste disposal site, but ideally they would want to see inert waste going into Longue Hougue Quarry.
Asked about the issue of flood defences for the Bridge, constable John Niles felt there was a much simpler answer.
‘Basically all they need is a foot-high kerb on the edge of the harbour wall, and that’s all it needs, and there would be no flooding. They said the infrastructure wouldn’t take the weight of the extra block on top, but what about all of the heavy lorries passing through every day?’
James Ede Golightly, a non-executive director of the GDA, has thanked Mr Watson for his efforts leading the organisation over the past three years.
‘Peter’s tenacity and passion to enhance our island has been a key reason for the GDA’s successes to date. He has driven forward initial ideas and concepts into a clear vision for St Sampson’s which was endorsed by the States of Guernsey.
‘This 25-year programme is not without challenges, but with adequate governance and support it is achievable.
‘We wish Peter all the best and thank him for his dedicated service.’