This Is Guernsey

STRONG feelings expressed about designs for a new Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club building have not surprised its commodore.

John Frankland said that they were only ideas and nothing had been decided. ‘Lots of people have jumped on it and think it’s cut and dried, but it’s just not so,’ he said.

‘We were invited to submit some designs and that’s all we are doing.’ Mr Frankland said that in any situation such as this he believed people who were against proposals would be far more outspoken.

‘It lends itself for people to criticise,’ he said. ‘I can appreciate people grumbling about modernistic designs just as they did about Admiral Park.

‘I think the negative people will be the ones shouting about it. I spoke to many people looking at the designs and there were a lot of very positive comments.’

Mr Frankland said that any development on the Victoria Pier would take time to materialise. ‘This competition is just a taster and a way of getting a bit of interest,’ he said.

Boat-owning Chief Minister Mike Torode described himself as an interested observer of the competition.

A number of States departments would have a say in whether any project was ever built and Deputy Torode, who is a not a member of either of the local yacht clubs, said that a potential development was some way off.

‘I can understand that such a competition creates interest both ways,’ he said.

‘States members and islanders will be interested in the results, but all should appreciate that there are a lot of hurdles to cross before any development happens.’

Ironbridge Estates managing director Peter Kaufman Kent sponsored a competition among graduate architects at London firm EPR to design a new clubhouse.

More than 300 people voted last week for their favourite.

The winning design is due to be announced tomorrow and will then be put to Environment, who will decide if it is suitable.