ISLANDERS are angered by the prospect of a sewage treatment plant a stone’s throw from their homes. Public Services has identified six sites where wastewater could be treated before being pumped out to sea.
These include the Belgrave Vinery housing target area in St Sampson’s.
Victoria Avenue resident Rene Naftel was outraged at the possibility of such a plant right on his doorstep.
‘I was told that it’s a site of archaeological importance so it’s disgusting if they go and build on it,’ she said.
‘It seems to me that whoever had it before sold it because they couldn’t build on it and now the States is just doing whatever it wants.
‘I know the treatment plant has to go somewhere, but how much more do we have to put up with around here?’
Of all the potential sewage treatment plant sites, Belgrave is the closest to existing housing.
But the area already accommodates La Fontaine waste separation facility, the new Les Nicolles schools and temporary storage for industrial waste.
Resident Sue Le Cras said: ‘Why can’t it go somewhere else? There is already enough at this end of the island. We pay our rates and taxes just like everybody else, so why should we put up with this?’
Neighbour Pat Larkin thought Longue Hougue was the best place for an integrated sewage treatment plant.
‘A major concern of mine is drainage. This is a low-lying area and the road has been flooded before,’ he said.
‘Where will they put an access road? There is already enough traffic here as it is.
‘I take it that if they build a sewage treatment plant here, they wouldn’t be able to put any new houses here as a result.
‘But we need a sewage treatment plant and we need one soon. Someone has to take the initiative.
‘Having raw sewage dumped on Belle Greve Bay 100 metres from my house, where my children learnt to swim, is unthinkable.’
St Sampson’s senior constable Peter Gilson echoed the Environment Department’s criticism of Public Services.
He also agreed that it had been premature in naming the sites before an environmental impact assessment had been carried out.
‘Before any decision is made there has to be a proper investigation into the effect on the people living nearby,’ he said.
‘I would be totally against the States making a knee-jerk reaction and building a cheap option that residents have to live with for years to come.
‘It is a continuing source of annoyance that the northern parishes, and St Sampson’s in particular, do seem to get stuck with most of the less attractive developments.’
* The States is due to debate the issue at this month’s meeting.
Article posted on 2nd October, 2007 - 12.00am
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