Wednesday 24 June 2015
The Policy Council Working Party on the Town Seafront - comprised of the Ministers for Commerce & Employment, the Public Services Department and the Environment Department under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister - met formally for the first time to discuss the town seafront project yesterday [22 June].
In a statement the Working Party said:
The Working Party agreed that the issue relating to the seafront is more than just about a specific courtesy pedestrian crossing - it is about traffic issues, cruise liner visit arrangements and harbour facilities issues as well. It is also about an economically beneficial sector for Guernsey, which this year could mean 130,000 passengers setting foot on Guernsey, a number projected to grow again next year.
As this is an issue that impacts on town traders, on parking, on the enhancement of the quay, on commercial opportunities relating to the cruise liner visits and on health and safety, it must be dealt with cohesively with leadership from the Policy Council, the Chief Executive, senior officers and resource from States departments involved.
With that in mind three priorities were agreed:
1. To assess the impact of the current arrangements, and recommend and agree short-term improvements where possible for the remainder of 2015
2. To plan arrangements for 2016 that balance the interests of town traders, island businesses and the cruise liner visitors
3. To find out how Guernsey can benefit best from the economic opportunity provided by the cruise liner industry, including making recommendations on how those opportunities can be unlocked for the widest number of island businesses. This will also include building on the work that Commerce & Employment has commissioned into cruise liner passenger spending in Guernsey.
The Working Party agreed that the growth of the cruise liner industry offers Guernsey - not solely St Peter Port - some very positive opportunities. However with those opportunities come challenges which need to be resolved. The Working Party noted that some of the pedestrian, traffic management and seafront enhancement issues were already being considered before the cruise liner passenger traffic issues increased, but that those issues now needed to be dealt with in the context of the growth in cruise liner numbers.
Although there are different views from various parties on-island at this stage about the best way to do things, what is clear is the shared commitment of all parties on-island to help find long-term solutions to passenger, traffic, parking and pedestrian pinch points all along the seafront - from the Weighbridge to the South Esplanade - and at the same time accommodate the growing cruise liner industry.
The Working Party would welcome constructive short and longer-term solutions from individuals and groups, and during the summer will hold a series of meetings with town traders, business bodies and local transport user groups in order to get their views on the current transport arrangements in order to inform thinking for next year's cruise liner season.
The Working Party will meet regularly through the summer to assess developments, including in relation to the impact of current road layout on car users and passengers, and looking at how to maximise the use of parking spaces to create the greatest capacity even on cruise days.
Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq Deputy Scott Ogier
Chief Minister Minister for the Public Services Department
Deputy Yvonne Burford Deputy Kevin Stewart
Minister for the Environment Department Minister for Commerce & Employment
Jo Porritt of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce said:
"I'm keen to continue to open up dialogue between Chamber and the new Working Party. A continued focus from Chamber is to create transparent and positive communications between the States and the business community, especially the retail sector.
"Chamber has been working hard to identify issues within the retail environment as a direct result of the changes to the seafront and cruise ship landing points. We are currently working with the States to quantify the spend of cruise ship passengers via exit surveys, and also with individual retailers.
"We are keen to see evidence-based decision making in the future and are committed to working towards a more cohesive and inclusive partnership between the new working group and the businesses we represent."
Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, Chair of the Working Party added:
"It is clear that we will need to improve things for 2016 in order to ensure we balance the needs of islanders, including traders and businesses, as well as continue to support the growth of the cruise liner industry. We agreed yesterday that these were a set of issues which need a truly joined-up approach. We will do that, and make that a priority. There are many people whose ideas have not yet been heard or tapped into and we will now ensure that happens."
Paul Whitfield, Chief Executive of the States of Guernsey said:
"Bringing the different departments together through supporting the Working Party is in line with the changes that we are making to the way the public service works, and so is working with business to find a solution which helps us maximise the economic opportunity for our island."
