Guernsey parents call for education plans progress

Some parents said potential tax rises to help fund education plans would be worthwhile

Parents have urged Guernsey's States to move ahead with building new post-16 education sites - even if it leads to a rise in taxes.

A proposal to spend £88m on new facilities at Les Ozouets has been approved by deputies.

The project will see the new Guernsey Institute built on the old St Peter Port School site.

Deputies indicated taxes could increase to fund the plans, but parents have said this would be worthwhile.

As part of the plans, the sixth form centre is set to stay at La Mare De Carteret High School until at least 2029.

Funding for the £88m will be split between £55m worth of borrowing along with £33m being taken from Government reserves.

Investing in future

Parent Nick Paluch told the BBC the funding agreement was a positive step forward, even with a possible tax rise.

He said: "Let's get on and do it because education and our children's future is important."

Tim Langlois, who has two children and is part of Le Mare's Parent Teacher Association, said even if taxes went up, it would be a worthwhile sacrifice.

"We want to see this island flourish and become the best it can be for the future and if we don't invest in education, it won't," he said.

'Unfunded borrowing'

Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, Education, Sport and Culture President, said hopefully building work can start later this year and the States was ready to go with it.

But Deputy Dave Mahoney raised concerns about the funding sources, saying some of the cash appeared to have been "magiced out of thin air".

He said: "In the last couple of States meetings we've had, we had people running from the assembly with their trousers on fire talking about unfunded borrowing, and that's exactly what this is."