Douzaine to consider new Bridge improvement plans

Simon Kildahl, non-executive director of the Guernsey Development Agency. / Sophie Rabey/Guernsey Press

A package of enhancements designed to make the Bridge and surrounding areas a better place to be have now been given the go-ahead by politicians and will be worked up into formal plans and it is this that GDA director Simon Kildahl, and his colleagues will be outlining to douzeniers and inviting comment.

What has been endorsed by the agency's political oversight group is extensive and aims to deliver benefits for the community and economy. The package includes:

• A network of scenic walking and cycling routes around St Sampsons harbour

• A new sheltered bus station to improve public transport

• Improvements to the Bridge retail area, creating an attractive pedestrian-friendly waterfront destination with opportunities for enhanced hospitality and retail opportunities.

• A new family-focused community area featuring a children’s play area and café.

• Improvements to Vale Castle facilities, including accessibility upgrades and infrastructure to support community events and tourism whilst maintaining and preserving its unique heritage.

• The creation of a Marine Centre, moving marine maintenance businesses and boat storage facilities to coordinate land use

• Creating a more flexible community space at La Crocq and Abraham’s Bosom piers while preserving their important maritime heritage and landmarks.

Full details of the proposals can be found here.

Delivery
The GDA and the political oversight group believe these can be delivered in a comparatively short time and have drawn a distinction between what was announced earlier this year, which was a much more extensive programme of development.

That considered housing, transport, harbours, flood defence and infrastructure issues in a single, coordinated programme. The projects, developed in line with States of Guernsey policies, included short-term enhancements as well as longer-term projects that are awaiting strategic decisions from the States of Deliberation including the future approach to the harbours, the island’s fuel importation strategy and a new electricity interconnector with France. These also await progress within ongoing work such as coastal flood defences and inert waste.

In the meantime, the GDA wants to provide some tangible evidence of improvement at the Bridge, which is why it has released the latest list of projects.

Mr Kildahl explained the GDA's approach, saying – "The Bridge and the surrounding area deserve to be somewhere our community and visitors come to, not just drive through. It deserves the same high-quality public amenities, modern infrastructure, and vibrant public spaces enjoyed by St Peter Port."

• The Constables have made no comment on the latest proposals, which were also released to the media, but are expected to do so after the meeting with the GDA.