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A planned public hearing on the draft Local Planning Brief for Guernsey's harbours has been postponed because of the weather.
It was due to take place tomorrow (Tuesday 10 December) from 10:00 at Les Cotils.
It will now take place next Monday, 16 December at Les Cotils, again from 10:00.
Anyone is welcome to attend the hearing, but only those who have made representations will be able to speak.
Pictured: The two Harbour Action Areas in Guernsey.
The public hearing is to look at the proposed ideas for redeveloping land within the St Peter Port and St Sampson Harbour Action Areas.
The draft Local Planning Brief, which has been subject to two rounds of consultation, identifies opportunities for change and enhancement of the Harbour Action Areas and will facilitate and encourage development along the east coast, said the States.
Both of the ports are crucial entities in island infrastructure - with the majority of freight coming ashore in St Peter Port, fuel and other 'dirty freight' being docked in St Sampson's, and all passengers using any ferry or cruise service landing and leaving in town. The majority of commercial fishing boats and other marine industries, and the majority of pleasure boaters are also predominantly based around these two harbours.
In St Sampson's, the HAA reaches from Vale Castle to Longue Hougue, enveloping the power station on North Side and the fuel storage sites on Bulwer Avenue.
In St Peter Port, the HAA starts at Salerie Corner and ends at the Clarence Battery, with the whole of St Peter Port Harbour and all of the Piers, and Castle Cornet and the breakwater included, along with the High Street and surrounding shopping areas.
Pictured: St Peter Port and St Sampson's Harbours.
The draft LBP for the HAAs has been produced by Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design - a UK based consultancy with experience working in Guernsey already having been involved in plans for Leale's Yard and regenerating St Peter Port.
Tibbalds worked with key stakeholders, including the Guernsey Development Agency, Guernsey Ports, marine traders, the boat owners association, and members of the public in drawing up the 84 page draft LPB (and the hundreds of pages of appendices).
The members of the public who were involved attended discussions on the scope of the LBP and its proposals earlier this year. The Development and Planning Authority has also been closely involved as the lead States body on this project.
Tibbalds have written the LPB based on the key issues affecting both harbours and how they work. They've said the project was informed by the harbours’ roles in servicing the island, providing access to the water and water based activities, leisure and industry, and as a resource for both islanders and visitors.
The draft LPB for St Peter Port and St Sampson's Harbours makes a few firm suggestions, while also making many more vague proposals for what could happen in the future, with some of those suggestions based on other States work streams progressing, or not.
The idea of relocation harbour services from St Peter Port to St Sampson's is touched on frequently as a potential decision which may be made in the future, and the LPB has been written so that it would still hold relevance if that were to happen.
The draft LPB also references moving the power station from North Side, or reducing the impact of it where it currently is. Longue Hougue is mooted as a location for this if it were to happen, but it's not one of the firm proposals.
More likely to happen is the relocation of the fuel storage sites from Bulwer Avenue to Longue Hougue.
Other proposals include modernising the existing infrastructure at both harbours, updating transport links and offering active travel choices, provide opportunities for housing developments, and create new economic opportunities while also working with existing business and leisure activities.
The full Local Planning Brief for the Harbours Action Plan can be downloaded HERE.
EXPLAINED: The Harbours 'Local Planning Brief'
Harbours planning brief out today
Community opinion wanted on future development of harbours
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