Laura Clayton: Five things I'd change about Guernsey

Friday 09 March 2018

As it was International Women's Day yesterday, Express thought it would be a good time to ask our editor what she would change about the island she is proud to call home.

Laura Clayton was born and brought up in Guernsey; before living and working in Jersey and the UK for a few years until she came home nearly a decade ago. She's worked in the media for more than 20 years, and has been working as a journalist for the bulk of that time - so she's built up a few opinions!

1) Island pride

For some reason a number of people have a real downer on the island we live in. I think we're all lucky to live here - yes it is expensive in some areas, and yes the weather is a bit "varied", but generally speaking it is safe, it is peaceful, there is lots to do and see, and we have a wealth of bars and restaurants, sports clubs and people putting on different forms of entertainment. 

People sometimes joke about the "news" reported in the island. So to that my answer is always: I would prefer to live and work in a place where people complain about supermarkets being too cold* rather than in a crime-stricken city where the murder of a teenager isn't even headline news, as was the case when I was working in London in 2007 - a year during which 26 young people aged between 14 and 19 were stabbed to death. 

*I did not write this story! 

2) Manners and respect

When did people get so rude? 

I am quite a blunt individual but some people are rude for the sake of it, and it is becoming as much of an island pastime as moaning is. A news story reporting a court case recently published by Express was shared by someone I know on social media. They were very rude about the journalist who wrote it. I know for a fact they wouldn't have been so rude to my face had they known that I had written it. It wasn't even me they were disagreeing with, it was the Judge's comments which had been factually reported. Another time, when I worked elsewhere, a man told me "you're not as pretty as you sound on the radio" - well sorry mate, but you were no Brad Pitt. I was too gobsmacked to say that though! 

3) Dog mess! 

I don't own a dog, but a few relatives and friends do and I hope none of them let their dogs foul in public and don't pick it up. It's disgusting! I live on a busy residential street near the Bridge and at least once a month there is a pile of dog mess left almost directly outside my front door. We spend a fair bit of time at Delancey Park or on L'ancresse Common and sometimes you have to watch where you step.

I'd rather the island didn't go down the step of introducing DNA testing as there'd clearly be a cost to all tax payers regardless of whether you own a dog or not, so can all dog owners please just pick it up themselves?

4) The cost of...everything!  

It does seem to be getting rather expensive to live here? 

A garage has opened in Jersey selling petrol at 99.9p per litre. I filled up the other day and it was around £124.9 per litre. I've stopped looking as my little Ford Ka is no longer so cheap to run. Milk is likely to be going up 5p per litre after the wholesale price was put up. We all know the cost of housing and off-island transport is higher than most people would like. None of these problems would be easy to solve as market forces drive the cost of most things, and any taxes we do pay are there for a reason to support other services. But, some things which really do rile me up and could be addressed include paying VAT on items when it is not a Guernsey tax. Why are clothes in some shops in Guernsey more expensive than in the same shops in the UK when they pay VAT?  

5) Liberation Day

Liberation Day should be a Bank Holiday every year. 9 May is an important day in our history and should be protected as our national day for generations to come. When it falls on a weekend I think we should get the following Monday off work and school to mark the occasion. 

I also think it is time for changes to be made to the way the day is marked with the public celebrations in town. While the formal events are still relevant and necessary to ensure the occasion is given the importance it demands, I think the "fun on the piers" has had it day and needs a revamp. I am not a fan of funfairs but if that's what it takes to bring a community feel back to St Peter Port then so be it. I always go to town on 9 May but the last couple of years I have questioned why. 

As for people who call it "Lib Day" - just don't. It is called Liberation Day as it is the day our island was liberated. Have some respect! 

Pictured: Liberation Day 2017, image from Visit Guernsey