Someone in the States get a grip and stop wasting our hard-earned money

It’s not only the package that the young need, our deputies keep on about our housing shortage, yet the States buy a house in St Martin’s opposite a well-known store, and then let in a building company that want to build 20/30 houses, (how many of those houses will be for our young first-time buyers), if they could afford one? And then we have deputy Trott’s £5m. – what world does he live in? – he’s talking about using to build a village for the workers. That £5m. would just about cover putting in the roads, mains water, mains electric, mains sewage, storm water etc. Why don’t they talk to the people that know what they’re talking about, instead of putting out statements like that?

Then we have Leale’s Yard that’s been talked about since man went to the moon. If that ever goes ahead, why doesn’t whoever is in charge of this so-called development put a spade in the ground, set out the roads, put in all the main services and put the hardcore aside for future use, they’re going to need it, and get on with it. Mind you, we who have lived here know that the site is about the same level as the St Sampson’s harbour seabed, so look out, where are they going to put the storm water, sewage etc?

What about one of the other sites that our States have put aside for housing? A lot of thought has gone into that! It’s called the Saltpans – what does that tell you? You don’t need some expert from the UK to tell you this could flood in 100 years’ time. Again, if they are talking 300 houses, we have to sort the storm water/sewerage etc. If we have a housing shortage why can’t the planner just pick out suitable greenhouse sites, not in a narrow lane, somewhere close to the main roads. Then let the young ones have a go at building their own house. It’s happened before, help them with a loan that they could cope with, they would have to agree that if they want to sell that they would have to offer it back to the States first and at a rate that is right at the time. It’s just a thought, it’s not rocket science to build a frame-form house these days with all the materials you can get your hands on now.

I won’t go on, but what about the sea levels? – they are going to be greater than what they are now. Shouldn’t our States be thinking perhaps we should build our sea defences now, but they will turn around and say, we haven’t got the money.

No, that’s because they keep wasting it – how does a project overrun by £30m. and the politicians didn’t realise? I can’t believe that. I’ve run a building company and a joinery company for 40-years plus. If you have what we call an extra on a project, you get together with the client and talk it out and agree in writing, as simple as that. Then we have our deputies giving away thousands of pounds to St James, millions to Condor, and God knows who else. Then they want another £30m. to finish another muck up at the PEH, this can’t go on. Someone in the States please get a grip and stop wasting our hard-earned money.

DH THOMPSON

La Ramee

St Peter Port