DEPUTY Jack Honeybill is refusing to be forced out of the decision-making process over Leale’s Yard.

The Environment board member is also executive officer of the Town Centre Partnership – mandated to promote and protect St Peter Port – and concerns have been raised about whether he could be impartial.

A key consideration of plans for Leale’s Yard, a derelict area of the Bridge earmarked for retail development, is whether the proposed centre would damage traders in Town.

But Deputy Honeybill (pictured) said that if he did decide to withdraw, it would be after discussions with the rest of the Environment board and not because he had been ‘bamboozled’ into it.

‘I just feel that, democratically, with my experience and responsibility, I can add value to the decision-making process, which has to be seen to be fair and to the benefit of the island,’ he said.

‘If, however, coming to that decision would be deemed to be having a conflict because of my role as executive officer, then I would abstain – but I am not going to be pressured into making that decision now.

‘If the minister of Environment says it would be practical for me to abstain from voting, then I will do so if it is in the best interests of the island. But I most certainly will not be bamboozled into withdrawing by people with a vested interest in it.’

Deputy Honeybill does not believe his role represents a conflict of interest because the Town Centre Partnership is not a political organisation. ‘We can only support the Chamber of Commerce and other organisations that are trying to improve Town,’ he said.