St Sampson earmarked for new waste and water sites

Two sites in the north of Guernsey have been earmarked by the States for a new reservoir and to store inert waste, such as rubble from building sites.

Environment and Infrastructure (E&I) said it had recommended Black Rock, near the Bridge, as a potential waste disposal site while Les Vardes Quarry, also in St Sampson, could be used for freshwater storage.

E&I president Lindsay de Sausmarez said the proposal gave the island "far better resilience" for its water needs and supported the construction industry.

John Bampkin, head of Guernsey's Construction Forum, said: "We've got to make sure we act very quickly to turn it into a real plan and actually make sure this happens."

E&I said there was an "urgent" need to replace the current waste disposal site at Longue Hougue as it was running out of space.

Mr Bampkin said: "The problem with inert waste is it doesn't decompose.

"We've got three years of storage left at Longue Hougue and when that goes, we don't know what's going to happen."

Mr Bampkin said his members supported the plan but it needed "action".

"If it doesn't happen the whole industry will grind to a halt."

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