Sark businesses chip in to keep visitor moorings open

Tuesday 1st June 2010, 2:29PM BST.

These visitor moorings at Greve de la Ville on the east coast and others at Havre Gosselin on the west might have disappeared for the season but Sark businesses have now agreed to fund a payment demanded by Chief Pleas. (43359)

ISLAND businesses have thrown a line to Sark Moorings.

Chief Pleas had decided that the company, which provides visitor moorings at Greve de la Ville and Havre Gosselin, must make a direct payment to the island for the right to ‘commercially exploit the seabed’.

It was feared that a decision by the island’s parliament in April to charge for the rights might force the closure of the moorings and in turn reduce the number of tourists visiting Sark.

However, with many local businesses also realising the dangers, they have agreed to fund the moorings for the summer season.

Andy Leaman, who owns Sark Moorings, said Chief Pleas should have properly researched the amount of money made before reaching the decision.