Aquarium owner frustrated as road stays shut
Thursday 10th February 2011, 1:00PM GMT.
AQUARIUM owner Dave Miller (pictured) is facing losing out on lucrative half-term and Easter trade because the only road leading to it is to stay closed until April.
What was announced as a 10-day closure on 18 January for work to stabilise the cliff has turned into a major frustration for Mr Miller.
He said the extended closure was a ‘hard pill to swallow’.
‘Obviously it is major blow to us,’ he said. ‘Naturally it has affected business and our income has gone down considerably.’
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Why don’t they open a small foot path for those wanting to visit the aquarium? It’s one of the only tourist attractions on the island.
I personally think it was better off as a road around to Solider’s and Fermain bay.
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Didn’t realise the aquarium was still open and it was very disappointing last time I went there, which was a very long time ago!
This will no doubt be terrible news to the handful of people that may go between now and April!
Maybe this is the perfect time to make it better!
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cant the environment department sort this problem out, it has taken long enough already if the work has to be done do it, i think the environment dep are a poor show, and as for finding no nemo i dont know what planet you are on as the aquarium is a great place to visit and is becoming more popular.
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fnn – i completely agree. the local aquarium is embarrassingly poor, like many local, ‘attractions’ for tourists – thousands of which are 2011 world travellers. shoddy and overpriced is not the same as quaint. the states museums are first class and the standard to follow. or are we just happy with world class tax avoidance facilities? i know the states museums have tax money to keep them going but without them the island has only 4th class attractions. suggestions please as how to motivate our private tourist facilities? aquarium man – do not moan, just use the time to make over big time and make it look like you mean it. a fishy mary portas visit is overdue?
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The aquarium may be poor, however for those who have exotic fish or animals the aquarium could be the only place to stock a specific food needed. if a path is not opened surely the only other way is to park in Fort George and walk down past the cow horn?
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if Mr Miller wants to provide FULL liability insurance for anyone heading for the bathing pools I’m sure Environment could be persuaded to reopen the road immediately …..
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It is a long trek to buy crickets each week. Our 4 bearded dragons need feeding and it now takes a long time to walk to the aquarium and I can no longer drive there during my lunch hour
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Johnboy
I know the feeling – when my bearded dragon needs feeding he makes me drive all the way to Forest Stores.
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Finding no nemo
How can you say that it is very disappointing when you then quote you have not been there for a very long time hmmmmmmm
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If you look closely enough, they have marine clown fish at the aquarium.
So, Nemo is on display, there are even Nemo’s in the for sale section!!
So finding no nemo, did you have your eyes closed or your blinkers on??
As for the quality in there, its improved a lot over the last 5 years IMO, and there are more improvements coming judging by the building work when I was last there, although I fear some people wont be happy unless poor old Dave Miller is doing backflips off a whales nose.
With guernsey’s rampant tourist industry and huge government led incentive schemes for tourism….. riiiiiight!!
Plus I’m not sure Dave would look great in a wetsuit.
I tend to try to get round a lot of Guernsey’s tourist attractions to add a bit of local support and cash, even if its only 1 family once a year, every little helps for these businesses. I find it ironic that the places get slagged off by people who admit to not going in ages. They cant win, people wont pay, but they expect first class sea world like facilities!!
Also FTR I know the aquarium sell a lot of RO and Salt water to marine fish owners, thats quite a walk carrying 60 litres of water.
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There is a path above the road from start of La Vallette that leads to Clarence Battery – not exactly a huge detour : put signs up for people to follow – it`s a lovely little walk if you can be bothered.
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Good call Dave – you can’t expect the London Aquarium standard in Guernsey – there’s neither the money or the level of interest to warrant it.
As for the owner I’ve found him really helpful. I used to have a tropical tank in my old house and my catfish got far too big for the tank – it was over a foot long! He came and took the fish away and rehomed it for us in the Aquarium.
OK he got a free exhibit but he also saved a very grateful fish from the BBQ…..and got a few cuts for his trouble.
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I really feel for Dave Miller over this, he and his few staff are always really helpful and very friendly.
No it’s not a fantastic tourist thing and maybe overpriced but let’s face it, what isn’t overpriced in Guernsey these days?!
In response to Le Andrew saying about the lovely little walk people need to take for a detour, it is a lovely walk when it’s not raining or when people aren’t “nipping down there” on a lunch break as someone mentioned further above.
If you want to buy a tub of locusts, it’s fine or even if you want a couple of small fish or some food but if you’re after a fish tank, or vivarium, there is no way anyone in their right mind would walk up a cliff path with those types of items!! They are probably the sales that Dave needs for upkeep, improvements and possibly even to stay afloat (excuse the pun)
Nice walk or not, he’s going to lose a massive amount of business over the coming months, not to mention any tourists coming ahead of silly season.
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