LONG Port chairman Charles Billson has applauded the States for plans to spend £145,000 on consultants for the east coast. Deputies will be asked later this month to agree the sum, which will fund a team with experience in large-scale projects to propose a series of scenarios. If the proposal is rejected, the States will abandon work on the project. But Mr Billson, whose firm announced its vision for the area last summer, believes it is the right thing to do.

‘The initiative of our vision is now coming to bear fruit in that the States is seriously looking at the land use on the eastern seaboard, including the area inland from Belle Greve.

‘They have commissioned a report to look at land use and land use requirement in the urban area from St Sampson’s to Havelet, which means the government is now having a balanced approach. I think it’s a good first step.’

He hit out at campaigners who said the money should not be spent. He also advised the activists to look more closely at the Long Port proposals and not to sensationalise the situation.

‘This is not just about Belle Greve Bay. To say the money shouldn’t be spent is a trivialisation because otherwise the government wouldn’t be able to make a sensible decision.

‘We haven’t got enough commercial, office and retail space. It’s not as good as it should be and that’s because we haven’t got a modern centre.

‘This island needs investment.’

Environment minister David De Lisle said it was important to realise that it was not simply a response to Long Port’s proposals.

‘The eastern seaboard extends beyond the area considered by Long Port and the project work deals with the interrelated issues for the whole of the urban area.

‘The two projects ‘scenarios for the eastern seaboard and the strategic framework for the urban area’ are closely inter-related.

‘There is therefore a need, as set out in the Billet, for the development of scenarios for the eastern seaboard to proceed in parallel with the capacity study work ‘in respect of the urban area’.’

He said that because the States had a number of environmental interests, it was imperative to have additional expertise on top of the skills already present.

Deputy De Lisle added there was a misconception that the States had plans to develop the bay.

‘The proposed study relates to the whole of the eastern seaboard and the impacts with the urban-wide area,’ he said.