GUERNSEY faces losing an essential island business due to a lack of available land designated for industrial use. F&B Blasters had to quit a 10,000sq. ft area at La Cache Farm, Vale, as the grit-blasting firm did not have the correct planning permission to work there.

Land in the vicinity has already been designated as appropriate for use by other businesses.

However, applications by the company to change designation of use were rejected.

F&B director Tony Le Flock said failure to find a new location would force the two-man company to shut down completely.

And the loss of the business could have a serious knock-on effect for other local industries.

‘We’ve invested everything into this business – it’s been the hardest five years of our lives,’ said Mr Le Flock.

He added that no other Channel Island firm could do the same work.

‘Everything you want to have galvanised will have to be sent to the UK – it’s going to cost everyone a lot of time and a lot of money.’

Marine & General director Andy Way said he was becoming increasingly concerned at the lack of suitable premises and land available for some of the small, specialist companies upon which other firms depended.

‘We have a number of current and future contracts which require the services of an indoor or enclosed blasting and painting facility,’ he said.

‘F&B were – up until they had to leave their specially fitted-out workshops – the only remaining specialist contractor on the island.’

Some of the recent jobs it has carried out involved painting the SeaGuernsey Mast and steelwork for the Markets.

‘We will have to consider contracting this type of work off island, or try to deal with the problem ourselves.’

Mr Le Flock thought the premises at La Cache Farm were appropriate for two or three small businesses.

And landlord Mike Gaudion said he had been inundated with requests to use the property, which is now lying vacant.

‘I’ve had a stream of people saying they’ve wanted to use the building, but now we will have to wait due to the investigation of the farming industry.’

The property is unlikely to be redesignated until a review by the States of the usage of farmland has taken place.

Deputy Commerce and Employment minister Carla McNulty Bauer confirmed that a proposal had been put forward and a consultation process would take place towards the end of this year and the beginning of the next one.

However, Mr Gaudion said that the land had not been used for farming for more than 11 years.

‘It can’t be a farm – it doesn’t make economic sense.’

He added that he had received a letter from the Guernsey Farmers’ Association confirming that there was no interest in using the property as a farm.

He also said he had been happy enough with F&B using the premises at La Cache Farm.

Deputy McNulty Bauer recognised the importance of retaining small local businesses as it meant there was less reliance on UK services.

‘That’s why we have to try and help these small businesses,’ she said.

‘My opinion is that I would like to have more places on the island to house them. However, F&B were using the land without appropriate planning permission, whereas other businesses have had planning permission to work there.’

She also felt that in the long term it was important to respect the overall balance of countryside versus urban areas in Guernsey.

‘While local industry is very important for the future of the island, we need to have a clear long-term strategy – we can’t do it on a piecemeal basis,’ she said.