MARKETS developer McAulay has reiterated its pledge to start work next month. It follows years and months of uncertainty and frustration at the lack of progress on the historic site.

‘We are delighted at the speed the drawings have been turned round for both the 1830 and 1822 buildings. This reflects the way that both the States and McAulay have been working together to enable the Markets development to progress,’ director Brett Allen said yesterday evening in a brief statement.

‘The development programme is as agreed with the States and work should commence during June.’

The developer’s PR company said that comprehensive details would be made public in the coming weeks.

The statement came less than 48 hours after the Environment Department pledged to make the controversial issue a top priority.

It said it saw no reason why work could not start immediately following the granting of the necessary planning permissions.

The department’s stand was welcomed by the Guernsey Heritage Trust.

‘The trust is very encouraged to see that the Environment Department has made it quite clear that it is not going to let the matter concerning the Markets slip,’ said its chairman, Advocate Roger Dadd.

He said that the trust felt there had always been the risk that it would fall between the former States bodies and the new department.

‘We are encouraged that that is not the case and believe that the former Heritage Committee went to considerable lengths to make sure that the developer complies with the heritage aspect of this sensitive group of buildings. We have much hope that that continues to be the case,’ said Mr Dadd.

He said that the trust had been concerned at the lack of progress with the Markets and hoped that the project would now move forward to a satisfactory outcome given the decision of the former States that McAulay sees it through to completion.