States labelled 'dysfunctional' over inert waste

A planning decision not to allow building waste to be stockpiled at Longue Hougue could now be challenged in the States

Business leaders have warned about the impact of rejecting plans to allow construction waste to be stockpiled in Guernsey.

The idea of temporarily storing it at Longue Hougue was thrown out by politicians at a planning meeting earlier this week.

The Chamber of Commerce said it was "deeply frustrated" by the move.

Space at the existing inert waste disposal site is running out, with concerns it could be full within months.

One reason the proposal was rejected was the time period waste could potentially be stockpiled for.

President of the Chamber of Commerce, Stephen Rouxel said it was a "lack of cohesive policy making and the dysfunctional governance that has led to this point".

"To continue following this pattern of indecision will have impacts, most notably to the construction industry, at a time when housing needs to be a priority," he said.

The States' Trading Supervisory Board (STSB) has now unanimously agreed to appeal the planning decision.

STSB president Peter Roffey said that could mean the States end up making a decision in September.

However, he added that they will "continue to look for a less confrontational way forward if at all possible, but that cannot include a revised, scaled down, application which fails to address the island’s strategic needs".

Deputy Roffey said doing that would "simply be irresponsible".