Broaden vision for harbours redevelopment
LOOK at a satellite image of the proposed site for Guernsey’s northern fuel and freight seaport and two things are striking – the oasis-like nature of the residential properties flanking Spur Point and the area occupied by Longue Hougue Quarry.
Understandably, the potential construction of a new harbour at the bottom of their back gardens is devastating for the homeowners there and will be resisted by them.
Strategically, however, it sits better within any new dock development. That is particularly the case if the futureproofing that the States’ Trading Supervisory Board is building into so-called Option 5 leads eventually to ferry operations and a new passenger terminal being located there.
Similarly, the hole in the ground that Longue Hougue quarry represents makes no sense in the context of the Bulwer Avenue area acting as the island’s main industrial site.
For Guernsey Water, it is represents vital storage. For Ferryspeed, trying to run logistics from a cramped site, it is a waste of space and as ‘sensible’ as keeping States Driver and Vehicle Licensing in its marshalling yard area.
With Les Vardes Quarry soon to be released by Ronez, using that for water storage and reclaiming Longue Hougue makes the most sense – but is not being pursued because of timescales and the cost of linking Les Vardes to the island’s water infrastructure.
This is short-sighted. Regarding the ports as a multi-generational project is the perfect opportunity to free up St Peter Port and, particularly, the Bridge and regenerate Leale’s Yard.
STSB has done a good job in pulling together issues and options within the terms of its mandate but government collectively needs to look further and wider as it seeks to build back better after Covid.
The work just published has highlighted a bigger picture that needs addressing if the island is to resolve deep-seated problems over infrastructure and investment generally and, as the report puts it, breathe new life into the island’s northern capital.