Harbour ‘neglect’ puts up improvement price

By Nigel Baudains

A LACK of investment is being blamed for increased expenditure at the St PEter Port harbour. The States has allocated £5.3m. on remedial work to berths four, five and six but a consultants’ report is understood to be saying the figure could be higher.

Guernsey Commercial Port Users’ Association president Steve Champion-Smith said that while the work was a priority, he had sympathy for the Public Services minister.

‘It’s unfortunate that Deputy ‘Bill’ Bell finds himself in a situation whereby his board has to resolve the financial burden of what in essence has been many years of neglect,’ he said.

The association hoped to continue working with Deputy Bell towards finding workable solutions to the problems.

Deputy Barry Brehaut is demanding that the findings of the consultants’ report are released. He thinks the bill for work could total £9m. He believes the States should know the true position before next week’s debate when the House will be asked to approve another £2m. from the capital reserve for work on Alderney’s quay.

Mr Champion-Smith said the association had been privy to the report by Halcrow. It considered it concise and comprehensive in determining the physical work and overall spend that would be required to upgrade the harbour infrastructure.

‘It does surprise us that the information has not yet reached the full States for consideration,’ he said.

The Halcrow report was submitted to Harbours in September and harbour master Captain Peter Gill said it was now putting together its own report. He would not comment on cost until that had been done, beyond saying he thought the money would come from the ports holding account.

Mr Champion-Smith said necessary expenditure on Alderney quay and the current debate over further capital project requirements at the airport would undoubtedly put pressure on allocated funds for essential work at the harbour.

‘The association fully supports the remedial work at the airport as it is essential to Guernsey PLC.

‘However, equally essential is the upgrading of the infrastructure at the harbour,’ he said.

Harbours had confirmed that a working party was currently generating a paper to go to Public Services with a prioritisation proposal for work highlighted in the Halcrow report, he said.

The department’s report would then be put before the States for consideration.