IT IS far too early to talk about partnerships with Long Port over developing the eastern seaboard, says the States body charged with considering the area’s future. A consultative group was set up after the 2006 Policy and Resource debate in December to develop a waterfront strategy.

It has been meeting since March to investigate the latent potential of the land from Vale Castle to Havelet to produce greater economic, social and environmental benefits for the population.

The developer released its dramatic vision on Wednesday.

‘The Long Port Consortium has clearly put a lot of very radical ideas forward and there are some attractions with aspects of the proposals at a conceptual level,’ said Policy Council strategic land planning group chairman Lyndon Trott.

But he added that a lot more work needed to be done before the States was in a position to produce a strategy for the area.

‘At this stage, talks of a partnership with any particular developer can only be highly premature.’

Deputy Stuart Falla chairs the Eastern Seaboard Initiative Group.

It will produce a report for the SLPG with recommendations to take things forward.

Once the latter has reached a consensus and got Policy Council support, recommendations will go to the States.

So far it has reviewed previous major studies and proposals for the area and has met people able to offer insight into waterfront strategies.

This included a senior officer from the Isle of Wight Council who had experience of the Cowes waterfront project and an academic from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh who had a special interest in such strategies.

‘The development of a strategy needs to combine long-term vision with practicality,’ said Deputy Falla.

‘It is a very big undertaking that needs to involve a lot of consultation and discussion. The focus of the Eastern Seaboard Initiative Group is to identify how the waterfront area might provide greater benefits of all kinds for Guernsey so that these ideas can be considered by the States as a whole.’