"This is a beautiful island - please don't destroy it!"

Monday 09 March 2020

Plans to extend the Longue Hougue waste site would lead to a "total loss of all biodiversity" in the area, according to a local nature organisation, and the island's 'Inglorious Fisherman'.

La Societe Guernesiaise has raised concerns about Environment & Infrastructure's proposals, which would see the reclamation site expand by about 500m, enclosing an area to be filled with inert waste.

Pictured: Wildlife at Longue Hougue (image from Guernsey Marine Life Facebook page).

One of the major concerns for Trevor Bourgaize, from La Societe, is the future of the area's large population of rare scaly crickets.

"The Atlantic Scaly Cricket is there in high densities similar to that of Cheshil Beach - the UK stronghold," he explained. "It is a red data book species and is afforded the highest protection in Britain and France.

"Much smaller numbers have been recorded on Bellegreve - 32 compared to 297. The unproven mitigation measure is just to move them. Lower numbers at Bellegreve would suggest less favourable habitat and possibly more disturbance."

\

Pictured: Wildlife at Longue Hougue (image from Guernsey Marine Life Facebook page).

The organisation has concerns for a number of other local species, including an important type of sea grass called eel grass, a corraline algae known as maerl beds and the "very famous" St Peter Port Gabbro.

"The Bellegreve area is the only place on earth that [the St Peter Port Gabbro] occurs," Mr Bourgaize added. "It can be seen at its best at Spur Point. This area has often been visited by geologists and some small holes can be seen where samples have been taken. Jersey's John Renouf Phd FGA describes it as 'probably the most important geological single site in the Channel Islands'."

Pictured: Wildlife at Longue Hougue (image from Guernsey Marine Life Facebook page).

If the plans are given the go ahead, it is expected the area could be available for use in 2024.

"The effects of the development would be the total loss of biodiversity," Mr Bourgaize continued. "no mitigation measures have been formulated other than translocation. Any translocation would apparently be monitored over a two year period, which of course means that the infilling would start before we were sure that the mitigation methods were effective. The States would be asked to give the go ahead before they could be sure the measures had been successful."

Pictured: Wildlife at Longue Hougue (image from Guernsey Marine Life Facebook page).

Another Guernsey person to raise concerns about the plans is local recreational fisherman, Daniel Bougaize, who is known for his YouTube channel - Inglorious Fishing.

"I set pots for crabs and lobsters and also I do a lot of fishing in the area in question," he said. "There is plenty of marine life around Longue Hougue. The area is home to many species of fish and crustaceans that find safety around the rocks. I mean, come on, I had a very rare blue and white lobster there which only ever happens to one in every two million lobsters! How do you know there are not more rare lobsters there taking shelter and cover?

"I personally think the proposed plans are preposterous! As a small island, we need to protect our marine life.

Pictured: Wildlife at Longue Hougue (image from Guernsey Marine Life Facebook page).

"This is a beautiful island - please don't destroy it!"

If the proposals are given the go ahead, those with objections will have the chance to put them forward as part of a planning inquiry.

"Guernsey aspires to be the happiest place to live," Mr Bourgaize added. "Government must play their part and lead by example. Conservation shouldn't be restricted to the flora and fauna we see David Attenborough with."

Pictured top: Wildlife at Longue Hougue (image from Guernsey Marine Life Facebook page).