THE redevelopment of the Markets will now not be completed until Easter 2006. The latest deadline was announced at yesterday’s meeting between the development team and representatives of the National Trust of Guernsey, La Societe Guernesiaise and the Heritage Trust.

‘We were given an assurance that there is a definite plan of development in place and this should accelerate in the next few months,’ said National Trust of Guernsey president Roland Ogier.

‘We were given a firm commitment that all works will be completed by Easter 2006.’

Mr Ogier said the developers admitted that structural and administrative problems had slowed work. They now wanted to press ahead with the redevelopment because it looked a mess; the length of time meant it was taking on the appearance of an abandoned building.

Sir Robert McAlpine engineers have now arrived on site and have set out the piling grid that will allow Fondedile to start work in the 1830 Fountain Street shop area.

Chammic Services has started to remove the roof timbers and the internal walls of the 1822 meat market building, removing the debris as it goes.

‘It may initially appear that things get destroyed but it appears that reconstruction will then take place fairly quickly and much in the original form,’ said Mr Ogier.

‘I am happy that we are making progress towards reinstating a large proportion of the external shape and features, except the bonded store, which will be changed extensively.’

He added that there were also assurances that street furniture and fittings would be looked after. ‘All the items which are moved will be handled carefully. They will then be kept and catalogued or reused where possible,’ he said.

‘One of the most important things that they seem to have understood is that people want to be kept informed about what is happening,’ said Mr Ogier.

The development team, which includes States representatives, developer McAulay and architect Speakman Sayers, told the representatives that they would make more information available. Details will continue to be posted at www.themarketplace.gg and a public notice board will also be erected at the St Peter Port constables’ office and later in the Markets area.

Mr Ogier said that people would appreciate more openness. ‘I am happy that they have agreed to keep us informed, have got a plan of action and are ready to put it into gear.’

La Societe president David Le Conte agreed. ‘We have never been happy with the way the developers approached this project and felt it should have focused more on the building’s heritage and built upon that and made the most of that feature rather than making it a modern retail premises.

‘But those decisions have been made and we are now happy that there is dialogue and that we are part of that process.’

McAulay and the States representatives said they were delighted with the first of what would be a series of meetings with heritage representatives.