Debate, decide, dither, repeat

It can be maddening.

But this is about more than a failure by deputies to stick to their guns.

It is about how long it takes to get anything done.

Debates are held, a tough decision is made, and then… nothing. Months and years go by with little to no progress.

In the meantime opponents gather their forces for one last assault. The failure to act gives them a second chance.

The latest case in point is the L’Ancresse sea wall. Despite marches and petitions, the States rightly chose to demolish the anti-tank structure and let a sandy dune take its place.

It was close, but the decision was made.

That was in September 2017. More than two years later, the concrete scar still disfigures the bay.

By now, the work was supposed to be almost done. Golden sands should be forming, ready to soak up storms, proving the wisdom of that 2017 decision.

Instead, an election is approaching and, predictably, a requete has come in calling for a moratorium on the work. A cynic might ask: ‘Why bother? Nothing is going to happen anyway.’

But here we go again. Only now the Environment & Infrastructure’s messaging is mixed. If this is so vital why has it taken so long?

An environment impact assessment, so important it was worth only one line in the original Billet, has tripped them up. It was requested in May last year but E&I has not even gone out to tender for it yet, let alone started the work.

So confident are they in their prospects next week that they have stopped all preparatory work.

Instead, they have spent their time plucking figures out of the air. Whereas in 2017 a ‘maintain and improve option’ was priced relatively cheaply, the cost is now astronomical.

All of this feeds the growing suspicion that committees make it up as they go along. Work is urgent when it suits and can be ignored when that is the easier option.

Costs, likewise, go up and down to match the mood.

It does nothing for trust in government.