Channel Islands Live: 2-6 July

Summary

Updates from Monday 2 July until Friday 6 July 2018

Live Reporting

Beau Sejour: Evacuation overpublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Members of the public have been allowed back in to Beau Sejour after an incident forced its evacuation for about two hours.
Police made the decision to evacuate after an anonymous call.
Many people who had been in the pool at the time of evacuation were seen in foil blankets outside the leisure centre.
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Beau Sejour: 'We need to get out and go behind a wall'published at 14:34 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Esther had just finished her workout and was in the shower when Beau Sejour was evacuated.
We don't yet know the details of why the evacuation has taken place, but police remain at the site, and members of the public have not been allowed near the building for more than an hour.
Esther, who is now wrapped in a foil blanket to keep warm, didn't even have time to dry herself before being helped out of the building by a member of staff.
Quote Message
I did my lunchtime training, as I do every day, and then I heard someone on a microphone when I was in the shower, but I didn't understand. Then one of the staff came running up and said: 'We need to get out.' I still had shampoo in my hair but she said: 'Take a towel and just get out.' We were all standing outside and then suddenly they said we need to go behind the wall."
Esther, Evacuee
Jersey 'pleased' to be involved with Asian hornet researchpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Rob England
BBC News Online
Scientists testing a new technique to track Asian hornets to their nests used labs provided by Jersey's Environment Department.
The University of Exeter researchers, based in Penryn in Cornwall, travelled to Jersey and France last year to conduct tests using electronic radio tags.
They attached the tags to hornets, external and followed them back to previously undiscovered nests.
Dr Peter Kennedy, who led the research, said the new method was a "really important new tool" to tackle the spread of Asian hornets.
The scientists were also assisted by beekeepers from the Jersey Beekeepers' Association.
Image source, Peter Kennedy
Image caption,
The hornets could carry tags which weighed up to 80% of their body weight
Quote Message
We are pleased to be investigating efficient methods of tracking Asian hornets to their nests as we’re concerned about their impact on our wild insect pollinators, as well as their effect on local honey production."
Willie Peggie, Director, States of Jersey Department of the Environment
Beau Sejour evacuated after anonymous callpublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Beau Sejour Leisure Centre was evacuated after the police received an anonymous call from a member of the public.
They said the safety of the public was "paramount", and evacuated the building at 12:45.
While some members of the public have been allowed to go back to their cars, the building remains off-limits.
Abuse children's home 'will be kept'published at 13:42 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Jersey's top politicians decide not to demolish "house of horrors" Haut de la Garenne.
Read More
Beau Sejour centre evacuatedpublished at 13:33 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Breaking
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
People have been evacuated from Beau Sejour Leisure Centre.
Emergency services are asking people to avoid the area in St Peter Port, Guernsey.
More updates to follow.
Sark Folk Festival returnspublished at 13:22 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Facebook
The Sark Folk Festival will be back in 2019.
After taking a year out, the organisers have said on Facebook, external that they are "incredibly excited" to come back next year, and under new leadership too.
Here's what you've been saying on Facebook...
Tim: Now my 2019 can begin!!!
Nigel: Whoop whoop from Sark! Great news! You are all awesome!
Andy: It’s a toss up which news makes me happier - the England result last night or this.
Woah, hang on a minute Andy, let's not get carried away...
Haut de la Garenne 'will not be demolished'published at 13:05 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Breaking
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Jersey's Council of Ministers has decided not to demolish an old children's home that was the scene of decades of abuse.
Haut de la Garenne was named the "house of horrors" after being at the centre of abuse allegations.
The Jersey Care Inquiry report recommended demolishing the building, but the results of a public consultation released today showed 94% of the public supported keeping it.
Image source, EPA
A citizens' panel - including some survivors of the Jersey care system - voted unanimously to keep the building intact.
This morning, ministers "accepted the findings of the public consultation" and have decided that the former children’s home "should not be demolished".
They agreed to "further work to establish the long-term use of the site".
Flying Christine sent to Herm overnightpublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Guernsey's marine ambulance was called out to Herm last night to treat a patient with a foot injury.
The Flying Christine was requested by the Herm First Aiders, and left St Peter Port at 01:00 this morning with a paramedic and EMT on board.
The ambulance was back in Guernsey by 01:29, and the patient was taken to the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.
Durrell celebrates awards successpublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Jersey Evening Post
Durrell is celebrating a number of wins following success at several award ceremonies in recent weeks., external
'Breakthrough' in invasive hornet fightpublished at 12:37 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Scientists used radio tags to track Asian hornets, allowing their nests to be detected quickly.
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Jersey's finance sector shrinks by 2%published at 12:35 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Jersey's finance sector shrunk by 2% last year.
The States of Jersey said the decline was due to a 5% drop in the banking industry, while all other sectors grew by an average of 1%.
In real terms, the value of the finance industry to the economy was £700m less than in 2007.
The gross value added in 2017 was £1.74bn in current year values.
The productivity of the finance workforce also dropped last year.
All sectors apart from accountancy saw a decline, with an average of 3% across the industry.
Here are some other statistics from the report:
Total expenditure on goods and services was £750m, a decrease of 9% compared with 2016, with more than 40% of expenditure spent in Jersey
- Total expenditure on employment was £870m, an increase of 12% compared to 2016
- Average employment costs per full-time employee were £70,000, an increase of 9% compared with 2016
- The average bonus payment per full-time employee was £6,500, an increase of 12% compared with 2016
- The number of local staff recruited directly from school and university was 250, a decrease of 70 compared with 2016
World Cup predictions: Corbie gets it wrong!published at 12:10 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
While England may have scraped through to the quarter finals of the World Cup, it's the end of a lucky run for Corbie the tortoise.
Corbie, from Jersey, had predicted all of England's past three games correctly, but chose Colombia before Tuesday night's clash in the Spartak Stadium, Moscow.
As if you didn't already know, England won 4-3 on penalties after conceding a late equaliser.
Scientists study Asian hornet nestspublished at 11:46 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Asian hornets have spread across Europe and scientists are currently studying ways to control them.
Read More
Jersey Children's Day suggested for 3 Julypublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
A citizens' panel have suggested making 3 July Jersey Children's Day.
The day is the anniversary of the publication of the Jersey Care Inquiry report, which was released last year.
The panel also suggested a memorial in Royal Square, and voted unanimously against demolishing the Haut de la Garenne site, which was at the centre of many of the child abuse allegations which led to the inquiry.
"The consultation and memorial project are part of the government’s response to recommendation eight of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry, which identified the need to determine how the failures of the island’s historic child care system should be recognised and remembered," a statement said.
Jersey citizens' panel: 'We are the lucky ones - we survived'published at 11:22 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
The citizens' panel have released its recommendations for the legacy of the Jersey Care Inquiry today, and the members who survived their time in the care system have said islanders "must ensure that this is never allowed to happen again".
Among their recommendations, members of the panel suggested the creation of a memorial in Royal Square, the emblem of a butterfly for the care legacy, and the marking of 3 July as Jersey Children's Day.
A "significant" number of the panel were survivors of the Jersey care system.
Quote Message
We are the lucky ones: we survived. We will carry the physical and mental scars with us for the rest of our lives, but we survived. This memorial will help us, in part, to remember those who didn't, those for whom the pain was too much and took their own lives. We, the people of Jersey, must ensure that this is never allowed to happen again."
Survivors of Jersey's care system, Citizens' Panel
Jersey citizens' panel: 'To move forward we must look back'published at 11:10 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
A citizens' panel that was formed to determine how the failures of Jersey’s historic child care system should be recognised and remembered have said that all four parts of their recommendations "must be implemented".
Earlier this year, the panel was formed to consider how Jersey should remember those who were failed by Jersey’s historic care system.
The panel includes a "significant number" of survivors, who worked together for five days to develop a four-part recommendation:
- Creation of a memorial
- Designation of 3 July, the anniversary of the care inquiry, as Jersey Children’s Day
- Help and support for victims and survivors and their families
- The emblem of a butterfly to link the elements of the legacy together
The group also voted unanimously against the demolition of the Haut de la Garenne site, which was named the "house of horrors" when it become clear it was at the centre of many historical allegations of child abuse over several decades.
The demolition formed part of one of the recommendations put forward in the Jersey Care Inquiry report, which was released last year.
It's due to be debated by the Council of Ministers today.
Quote Message
We are a group of 14 Jersey residents who responded to the island-wide call for members of a citizens’ panel. With the help of two independent facilitators, we met over five days - our task to create a vision of how best our island can remember all those who were in care and the suffering they endured. We believe that to move forward we must look back and that to do so all four elements of our recommendations must be implemented."
Citizens' Panel
Most people 'want Haut de la Garenne to stay intact'published at 11:03 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
Nearly 94% of the Jersey public do not think that a building associated with decades of child abuse should be demolished, according to the findings of a consultation.
Haut de la Garenne was named the "house of horrors" after being at the centre of many of the allegations of child abuse.
Image source, EPA
The findings of the former Haut de la Garenne site public consultation have been published, alongside the recommendations from a citizens’ panel to create a memorial for a permanent legacy.
All members of the citizens' panel - a significant number of whom were survivors of Jersey's care system - agreed that the site should not be demolished, along with 94% of 850 consultation respondents.
The panel suggested Royal Square as the place for a memorial, which they want to feature an emblem incorporating a butterfly.
Scientists make breakthrough in Asian hornet trackingpublished at 10:01 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Rob England
BBC News Online
Scientists have made a breakthrough in the fight to stop the spread of Asian hornets.
Last year, a team from the University of Exeter based in Cornwall travelled to Jersey and France to test electronic radio tags, which they attached to the invasive species in their nests.
The aim of the government-backed initiative was to find a fast, efficient way of tracking the hornets so nests can be disposed of.
They are a predatory species which feed on honey bees and other pollinating insects, damaging local populations.
Professor Juliet Osbourne, from the university, said finding nests early, was "vital" to stop the hornets "colonising the UK".
Asian hornets have been seen in Spain, France, the Channel Islands and the UK, including in Devon.More on this story:
Guernsey Dairy prices set to rise againpublished at 09:45 British Summer Time 4 July 2018
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
The wholesale price of butter and ice cream from Guernsey Dairy is set to increase.
The gate price for butter will go up by 5% and the cost of ice cream will rise by 10% from the end of next week.
Image source, Guernsey Dairy
The dairy said the price rises reflected the increased cost of ingredients, and were in line with other similar brands.
In a statement, a spokesman said the increases seen over the last 12 months or so "reflect the general upward trend in commodity prices experienced across the UK and EU".
Last year, Guernsey Dairy announced the cost of butter would go up by about 12% to combat shortages in the island.