THE Billson proposals need to be toned down to win public support. States members met the Long Port Properties chairman at Le Rondin School yesterday as he unveiled ambitious plans to give the eastern seaboard a facelift, alongside proposals to help build a public-private sewage treatment plant.

‘The whole of the plans are achievable but may not be entirely acceptable to the people of Guernsey,’ said St Peter Port North deputy Wendy Morgan, in whose constituency much of the proposed seafront redevelopment would take place.

‘There is nothing suggested that could not be done but I would very much doubt that they would be acceptable to the whole population,’ said Deputy Morgan after the meeting.

St Peter Port South deputy Barry Brehaut said: ‘It is the most ambitious building project that the island has seen in the years since the reclamation of the Braye du Valle.’

‘It is very much a curate’s egg – good in parts.

‘It would have less resistance from the public if they could minimise the impact on Belle Greve Bay. They would take the public with them.

‘I’m sympathetic to what they want to do, but they need to minimise the environmental impact of the proposals.’

St Peter Port North deputy Jean Pritchard said: ‘The plans are grandiose and will take far longer than anticipated.’

St Peter Port South deputy John Gollop said: ‘On first look, it is a very impressive vision for the future. Guernsey knows that it has to deliver on non-polluting sewage treatment and waste management.

‘As we guessed, it is not just about waste management, it is about the reclamation of land at Longue Hougue and ‘some’ much-needed redevelopment,’ he said.

‘My initial reaction is: impressed with a vision that needs to be refined to be acceptable to the people of Guernsey.

‘It is important that the States of Guernsey gains a fair slice of any economical development and the people of Guernsey are fully consulted in what they want to see because we don’t want another debacle like the waterfront scheme in Jersey, which was environmentally very unpopular and which the Jersey public resisted.’

St Peter Port South deputy Carla McNulty Bauer said the plans were a very visionary step – public consultation would be very important.

‘Change like that needs to be addressed at an appropriate pace,’ said Deputy McNulty Bauer.

‘It has certainly opened our eyes to the possibility of developing the eastern seaboard for the future.’

She added that Mr Billson’s presentation had been well received.

‘He did get a good round of applause because research had obviously taken place into the project and his associates have certainly done their research and homework to come with the proposals today.’