Caption: Sewage graphic.
THERE will be no knee-jerk reaction to the sewage saga, a tourism spokesman said yesterday.
The Commerce and Employment marketing unit confirmed that there would be no special initiative in response to claims that tourists were being put off coming here by recurring sewage problems.
‘It will be very much business as usual promoting a range of things to see and do in the Bailiwick,’ he said.
Guernsey Press website www.thisisguernsey.com received numerous complaints from visitors upset by sewage pollution in the sea.
The department said it had received none.
The spokesman said it saw no reason to intensify marketing to compensate for any damage to the industry because it did not think there would be any medium- to long-term ramifications.
‘Marketing campaigns will continue to be evaluated and visitor numbers recorded in the usual way but there is currently no evidence to suggest that there would be an ongoing impact.’
Contact details: VisitGuernsey
PO Box 459
Raymond Falla House
Longue Rue
St Martin’s
Guernsey
Channel Islands
GY1 6AF
Information Centre Tel: +44 (0)1481 723552
General email: enquiries@visitguernsey.com
Website: www.visitguernsey.com
Article posted on 13th August, 2008 - 2.29pm
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8 Article Comments
More than a whiff of economy of the truth here. I am aware of at least 5 people who have complained in writing and 2 families who cancelled holidays here due to the raw sewage debarcle.
Cover up, what cover up? Who said it could only happen over Haut de la Garenne in Jersey?
C’mon States of Guernsey departments. You’re insulting the electorate and visitors with complete disdain. We’d get more honesty from the government in Beijing.
It seems pretty obvious that Tourism is staffed by people who don’t really understand the basics!
A new BIGGER yellow monster temporary pumping unit has been installed tonight at BELLE GREVE ROAD almost twice the size of the other 2 units that have been in use every evening/early morning this week. One can only wonder why and how much more is being pumped directly onto Belle greve bay. The question is why are the 2 one way valve’s installed into the wall at Belle greve not in use? why the need for these big container pumping units stradling the main road?
Well that’s alright then - tourism says it’s not a problem!
Very much ‘business as usual’ - so a continued downturn they, eh? I can’t believe those guys can be so blasé about such a serious matter. Will anyone take responsibility or action?
The existing sewage system is increasingly difficult to defend (perhaps an understatement). But a well thought out media response/campaign, explaining the difficulties of running a small island with a growing population, may at least help. If people are kept informed and it is demonstrated that something is being done to fix the problem (not just the symptom), the damage could be minimised.
Silence and inaction should not be an option.
I have just got back from holiday in Majorca where the beaches were over-crowded and the sea water was filthy. As I fought my way through the massed ranks of sun beds I thought how lucky we are in Guernsey to have unspoilt beaches and clean water…
…and then I remembered the recent health warnings on Cobo beach and was shaken out of my smug complacency.
I suspect most of us take our fantastic coastline for granted but the recent pollution scandal is a wake up call for us all. With an ever growing population we simply cannot go on pouring tonnes or untreated raw sewerage into our seas.
No matter how built-up the Island becomes I have always consoled myself with the thought that “at least we have our beautiful beaches”. We need a sewerage treatment facility to make sure this remains the case.
The States must sort this issue out. It cannot be acceptable to pump raw sewage into the sea in the 21st Century. As for it having no impact on tourism, I would find that hard to believe. I have regularly visited the Island and this latest incident has made me think twice about paying another visit and cautious about going into the sea in Guernsey.
I have no problem with sewage being pumped into the sea.
Where els has it gone since life began, where ever it has been deposited i suspect.
This case scenario is unacceptable in todays day and age. Especially when you consider health and hygiene.
Are people losing sight of what fish and shellfish survive on?
The biggest problem for me has been the never ending FLIES that have been such a frustration this summer not that it was much of one.
As for tourist complaints. Do we still get any?
It’s not just our organic waste that is being pumped out, it is the myriad of cleaning and bug-cleaning chemicals that do most damage. They don’t just disappear because you can’t see them any more, they get assimilated into the delicate life systems and they alter the very processes that ensure a healthy bio diversity. A lot less was being used 50 years ago, so no comparison should be made to ‘we’ve always done this’. We are killing our sea to enough of an extent that a few generations down the line will not be able to enjoy what we enjoy.
As a rich island we must intercept the poison and deactivate it. Otherwise, along with the lack of confidence in our political masters, we will lose confidence in our natural beauty. That would be a crime commited against our children.