Time to give the Bridge a boost
THE idea of a ‘bridge across the Bridge’, as suggested at yesterday’s Chamber of Commerce lunch, sounds intriguing. After all, some enhancement and regeneration in the area is long overdue.
But St Sampson’s parishioners would be forgiven for taking such grand visions with a pinch of salt.
It is certainly not the first idea they will have heard, and it won’t be the last.
Now, after years of promises about the Leale’s Yard development which have yet to come to fruition and the Quayside site having been shut since 2015, there are finally signs of hope.
With the States wanting to step in to kick-start Leale’s Yard and create key worker housing and plans in place for the former Quayside site to become a Home Bargains store, new life could at last be breathed into the Bridge and surrounding area.
The Home Bargains planning application states that it would bring millions of pounds into the local economy.
The redevelopment would cost about £10m. and create up to 100 jobs, creating gross added value within the economy of about £6.73m. per year.
Islanders might quibble about the details of the planning application, but it is encouraging to see a large company showing such confidence in the future of Guernsey and retail.
Here’s hoping this latest grand plan manages to progress beyond the planning stage.