States 'wish lists' read like pipe dreams
I BELIEVE that everyone at some time in their life creates a wish list, either mentally or on paper. It might be the desire to have a bigger or better car or house, different things to do or a list of countries to visit.
We now have the situation in Guernsey where different States departments or committees are producing wish lists, but unlike the private sector, where things are only proceeded with when they can be afforded, in these cases the public is always assured that they are absolutely essential and necessary – in spite of the fact that Guernsey is already struggling to find new sources of income in order to afford all the services to which we have become accustomed.
We now have the situation where not only does Education want to blow £60m. of 'our' money on one school, but Harbours says it is necessary to spend £40m. on re-building the existing terminal. It must be a gold-plated one, because think how many houses the States could build for that sum?
And while on the subject of the harbour, I fully agree with Michael Henderson, who wrote on 11 November, stating that the blindingly obvious place for all the port permit parking spaces is on the east arm nearer to where the staff work. There is nothing more infuriating at the moment for the motorist trying to find a place to park than to see so many of the existing port permit spaces empty and unused. This also applies to the parking spaces on the east side of the Crocq pier at St Sampson's, which have been taken away from public use but which are nearly always unused.
TONY MCDADE,
Eaton Cottage,
Rocque Es Roussee,
Vale,
GY3 5BS.
