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There aren't currently any restrictions imposed against people living in the houses behind the power station in the Vale based on any health or environmental reasons.
Deputy Neil Inder recently questioned why the 'seven or eight homes' just off Northside have been left empty since they were bought by Guernsey Electricity in 2015.
He posed the question publicly, to find out if they could be used to alleviate the current housing crisis.
The row of houses was bought by GEL after the previous owners and tenants had complained repeatedly about vibrations and noises from the newer generators installed at the power station. This was said to be having a detrimental impact on their health and lives.
It has now been confirmed that although the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation was involved with the case at the time, there is no official direction banning anyone from living in the properties for health or environmental reasons.
Deputy Inder said he had been led to believe there were formal limitations on the residential use of the properties.
Pictured: Deputy Neil Inder.
He asked the Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure to release a report by Environmental Health which was believed to prohibit anyone living there except Guernsey Electricity staff.
Deputy Inder asked, if that wasn't the case, then why could the properties not be used by other people - potentially key workers, or as short term emergency accommodation.
However, E&I has now confirmed there isn't any report and there are no restrictions on the use of the power station properties.
In a written response to formal Rule 14 questions submitted by Deputy Inder, E&I said:
"The Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation has not imposed any conditions relating to who may occupy the properties in question. Providing the properties are fit for habitation, it is the decision of the owner how they will be utilised.
"The Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation has corresponded with Guernsey Electricity in relation to the properties but has not issued a report. There is, therefore, no report to disclose."
Why promote using seven properties owned by Guernsey Electricity for emergency housing when previous residents suffered serious ill health and cost GE £m’s. A long period involving Environmental Health, Director Public Health concluded cannot be lived in https://t.co/YYnS0BTUxs
— Mary Lowe (@MaryLowe501) May 3, 2023
Among those who supported the previous owners and tenants during the discussions which led to Guernsey Electricity buying their homes almost a decade ago, was former Vale Deputy Mary Lowe.
She maintains that the people who used to live in those properties suffered "serious ill health" and that it was agreed at the time that the properties "cannot be lived in".
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