Peter Budwin. (0462895)
THE Saltpans development should have been made available to ‘dirty industry’ businesses, according to the Confederation of Guernsey Industry.
Director Peter Budwin said the Environment Department had not listened to the group’s concerns when it came up with its proposals for the site.
‘We are disappointed because when Environment first issued its concept for this piece of property, it came with a very fancy brochure,’ he said.
‘It seemed to me that they led everyone to believe that if someone took on the development and produced a high-end business park, it would be approved.
‘We were very vocal with our concerns at the time and are disappointed with the department for not listening to us.’
Saltpans Investments, part of the Long Port Group, bought the 16-acre site for more than £7m. in May and took out a full-page advertisement in the Guernsey Press this month seeking expressions of interest from potential tenants.
But Mr Budwin said he thought the site would be used by big businesses, not the ‘Fred in a shed’ types of company which are in desperate need of facilities.
‘Long Port has paid a lot of money for that development and it’s a business park, not an industrial park,’ he said.
‘It’s certainly not going to help the dirty industries and it’s also not going to help the small Guernsey businesses that are looking for affordable space.
‘I think there is a big need for storage space in the island and I think you will find that a lot of it [the development] is taken up by the banks and other large businesses.’
Mr Budwin said he was not criticising Long Port.
‘Long Port has bought a piece of property for development and it is going to produce a park that
Environment will approve,’ he said.
‘For the “Fred in a shed” businesses, the planning department needs to look at derelict greenhouse sites in and around the urban area and rezone them to allow this type of development.
‘All the business groups have said the same thing.’
An Environment spokesman said it was delighted the
Saltpans development was moving forward.
‘This will add considerably to the provision of industrial space available in the island and significantly ease the burden of those businesses currently experiencing difficulties in finding suitable accommodation,’ he said.
‘The department is currently working on bringing forward a range of industrial development opportunities which will look specifically at the needs of small-scale industry.
‘We very much look forward
to working closely with the owner of the Saltpans site and the
Confederation of Guernsey Industry to ensure the needs of the entire industry sector can be best met.’
Long Port was unavailable for comment.
Article posted on 23rd August, 2008 - 2.29pm
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