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East Coast plans move forward

East Coast plans move forward

Friday 07 July 2023

East Coast plans move forward

Friday 07 July 2023


A new team has been appointed to oversee any development along the east coast with Peter Watson as Chair, and Simon Kildahl and Louis Le Poidevin directors of the Guernsey Development Agency.

They'll have a budget of £250,000 to cover their wages over the next two and a half years.

Deputy Peter Ferbrache welcomed their appointments, saying he wants "sympathetic" improvements to the east coast. 

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Pictured: The agreed remuneration for the members of the Guernsey Development Agency.

The Policy and Resources President said he has high hopes for the entire east coast not just the town quays.

"I'd like to see them develop it and I am talking about the whole east coast not just St Peter Port, develop it sympathetically in line with what we've got. We don't want to see big skyscrapers, we won't see big skyscrapers, I'm sure. We want to see a gentle evolution, in some cases a revolution when it comes to the pool marina, over the next five, 10, 15, 20 years."

P&R had proposed Mr Watson - the founder of Vets4Pets - as Chair. Deputy Ferbache said he wants Mr Watson and the Agency to work on new ideas which would tackle topics such as housing, and regeneration of run down areas.

Mr Kildahl and Mr Le Poidevin both also have extensive experience in the legal and business sectors.

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Pictured: The Guernsey Development Agency was given a budget of £250k.

The new Agency will be tasked with enhancing the visitor economy, supporting the development of a Bridge Strategy, help make the centres of St Peter Port and St Sampson more attractive as places to live and work, and support the island's decarbonisation aims.

Deputy David de Lisle was one who had opposed the Agency, and its funding of £250k - a quarter of the original proposed funding - saying the work it will do should be put under the Government Work Plan instead.

Deputy Al Brouard was more positive and said he hoped the Agency would "take care" of the east coast while progressing some existing and new ideas.

Fears over parts of the east coast being 'sold off' to wealthy investors were allayed slightly with a successful amendment lodged by Deputies Yvonne Burford and Lindsay de Sausmarez.

They persuaded 25 States Members that the "Guernsey Development Agency must seek the prior in-principle approval of the States should it wish to enter into any leases exceeding 25 years on any land, buildings or assets which have been transferred to it by the States”. 11 deputies voted against the amendment.

30 States Members also agreed that the sale of any "land, buildings, or asset transfers from the States of Guernsey to the Guernsey Development Agency or to its agents, investors or partners must first be approved by the States”.

Deputies Peter Roffey and John Dyke successfully argued for an addition to the Capital Prioritisation debate in September - they wanted the States to agree to "release the funding required to carry out the survey work necessary to inform a decision on future commercial port provision".

Their plan to revisit issues set out by STSB in June 2021 was backed by the 29 votes to seven.

If the States agree to the funding in September there could be further work on the use of inert waste to develop St Peter Port Harbour, other plans for developing the harbours and hydrocarbons.

READ MORE...

FOCUS: The east coast - what did the States actually decide

Deputy doubts public are fully aware of east coast development plans

Talent wanted to guide east coast development plans 

P&R wants a development agency to run Guernsey's east coast 

First amendment submitted to P&R's east coast development agency 

P&R has draft proposals for "regeneration board" for east coast

 

 

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