POLITICIANS are angry that the States was not told about plans to construct a landmark building on the Crown Pier. Vale deputy Dave Jones said he had contacted Public Services minister Bill Bell to ask whether any formal approach had been made to the department and was told it had not.

‘Before you chop down somebody’s tree, it’s polite for the axeman to ask the owner first,’ he said.

‘It’s a little premature for architects to be drawing up plans for what would be a private club on a strategic part of the harbour.’

Deputy Bell said he would speak to harbour master Captain Peter Gill about the matter when he returned from leave, but would know nothing more until then.

A spokesman for the Environment Department’s planning section said he was aware of correspondence on the subject between the RCIYC and Captain Gill dating back to early last year.

Deputy Barry Brehaut said the matter had been poorly handled.

‘I’m not sure how this was initiated, but things must surely be done in a more inclusive way to ensure that all stakeholders are aware and are talking to each other,’ he said.

Deputy Brehaut said that while he favoured contemporary design, he was not sure if it would be appropriate for that site.

‘I do have concerns about development in the Careening Hard for lots of different reasons,’ he said.

‘The Town Centre Partnership is already looking to replace the North Plantation with a piazza.

‘That area ‘the Careening Hard’ is one of the only places left where you can get a feel of what old Guernsey was really like.’

Treasury and Resources also knew nothing of the plans.

Deputy Jones is a member of the Strategic Land Use Planning Group, tasked with investigating possible development of Guernsey’s eastern seaboard. Deputy Bell is its chairman.

‘My concern is that there is a beach there that boats can also use and it’s one of the only access points to that part of the harbour,’ said Deputy Jones.

n Developer Ironbridge Estates is sponsoring a competition for the design of new Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club premises on the site.