An artist’s impression of the planned ‘Telectroscope’ link between New York and London.

GUERNSEY has missed an opportunity to lead the world in public art. A new installation on the pavement in front of Tower Bridge is the talk of London, but a local artist did it here first. Four years ago.

The Telectroscope, which opened yesterday in the capital, allows people to see those near Brooklyn Bridge, New York. It is almost identical to View to the Other Side, a project created by Eric Snell in August 2004.

His piece visually linked Guernsey to Brisbane, Australia, and was inspired by Mr Snell’s childhood memories of digging holes on Guernsey beaches and being told that if he dug enough he would reach Australia. ‘I haven’t seen it but it sounds terribly frustrating and I really think that Guernsey missed an opportunity,’ said Mr Snell.

View to the Other Side was realised in 2004 but the concept was born two years earlier. It worked by placing cameras and TV monitors into each of the holes allowing people to see each other in real time. ‘One of the most irritating things was that Australia wanted to make it permanent but Guernsey dragged its feet and couldn’t be bothered to find a location,’ he said.