This Is Guernsey

By Nick Mann

GUERNSEY is neglecting its historic artefacts. They are, says the National Audit Office, being stored badly.

Culture and Leisure minister Mike O’Hara (pictured) welcomed the report that brought into the spotlight issues his department and its predecessor had for years been trying to resolve.

The NAO investigation was commissioned by the Public Accounts Committee and goes to the States at the end of the month.

‘Our heritage at the moment is stored in absolutely terribly inadequate places. We’re desperate to gain a better store and protect our heritage for generations to come,’ he said.

‘We’ve been trying to do something about it since the previous States.’

But that has met with frustration - an opportunity in 2004-5 to take over a site at Pitronnerie Road was rejected because it was designated for industrial use.

The department now has plans for a store, but requires the States to give the go-ahead in March’s capital prioritisation debate.

Most of the current collection - ranging from stuffed animals to musical instruments and military hardware - is stored in St John Street, .

The NAO report points to problems with the fragmented approach to managing Guernsey’s heritage assets, with responsibility for historic sites split between departments.

It firstly recommends Culture and Leisure taking a stronger lead and eventually considering hiving off responsibility to a States-funded organisation such as a trust, as has been done in Jersey and the Isle of Man.

‘If we were being asked at Culture and Leisure, like this report says, to centralise and look after historic sites, fine, we’d look at it - but we can’t afford to do it.

‘We’ve already cut our budget down as low as we can. We made some quite historic savings in the previous term.’

He said the cuts had left the department unable to get on with some projects that it would like to without private help.

Deputy O’Hara said he could understand the reasons for the recommendation to form a trust.

‘But I don’t think anyone would want to form a trust with the buildings in their present condition. It’s too much of a commitment,’ he added.

‘I know there have been instances where a trust has been formed in other jurisdictions but broken down and the government has had to step in.’

The new store needed to be built first, he said.

Some people are keen to see more items out on display.

‘There is a lot out already, but the truth is if you saw how much is in store you would be blown away.

‘We want to be able to use the artefacts better, but when you see the storage it’s just so hard to get stuff in and out.’

Article posted on 12th January, 2009 - 2.29pm