RATEPAYERS will not get their money back, even if the St Peter Port constables’ office plans are rejected tonight, according to junior constable Barry Cash.
Last month, £250,000 was ringfenced for the new property at Les Cotils, but the douzaine decided not to vote on the plans after strong opposition.
This meant parishioners had already paid the first instalment for the £2.5m. scheme, although it had not been approved.
‘It has already been agreed,’ said Mr Cash (pictured). ‘The money could be used instead to move out of the constables’ office into temporary accommodation if we were forced to refurbish it. It will not go up as much as has been portrayed.
‘We worked out it would cost about £8 more per year for the average house with a TRP of 100. This will give us a parochial building that will last for 125 years.’
He admitted businesses had been forced to pay more, but it was hard to compare last year’s rates with this year’s, since the change from the tax on rateable value to the tax on real property system.
‘If we look at this project in isolation, businesses will pay more.’
Last month, the owner’s rate for domestic properties, excluding the refuse rate, went up by 19.9p per unit. Of this, 7.5p goes towards the St Peter Port constables’ office project.
Speaking for a group of campaigners opposed to the current plans, Roy Bisson said both businesses and residents would be hit hard by the rise in rates that would be needed to fund the project.
‘It feels like it is too much, and it would continue for four years,’ he said.
The group, which includes former chief minister Laurie Morgan, Markets developer Brett Allen and former finance company managing director Carol Goodwin, has called for the constables to create an independent working party to look at the project and a full explanation of what was planned.
Mr Bisson said he would like assurances that if the plans were rejected, the money would be put to good use.
‘It has been voted through in the budget, so it would be available if the project goes ahead,’ he said.
‘If it doesn’t, it could be used to refurbish the current offices, and then we might see a drop in rates next year.’
He called for the constables to provide parishioners and businesses with the full details of the plans, information which he said was lacking at the previous meeting.
‘We want to know the full story,’ he said.
‘If the constables are not very careful, they will get a “no”, and then what will they do?’
He said there had been a strong response to the group’s letter.
‘A lot of people have contacted me and the feedback to the plans outlined so far has been relatively negative.’
n The meeting starts at 7.30pm in the Beau Sejour theatre. Only ratepayers and electors of the parish will be allowed to vote on the issue.
Article posted on 29th June, 2009 - 2.29pm
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