Support new quarry call

Unite, the UK’s leading union, is urging the Guernsey government to support a new quarry in Chouet Headland to preserve jobs on the island.

The site of the proposed building aggregate quarry is jointly owned by Channel Islands construction firm Ronez, where Unite has a number of members, and the States of Guernsey.

For the development to go ahead, the states must agree for the mineral located at the site to be quarried and grant planning permission for the quarry’s construction.

Without the new quarry, a total of 14 jobs at Ronez will be put a risk as reserves at the island’s only other quarry site at Les Vardes are nearly exhausted.

The union said the lack of a local source of aggregate will increase construction costs on the Channel Islands as the material will have to be imported, which will also cause carbon emissions to rise.

Unite regional officer Gareth Lowe said, “Les Vardes quarry has a long standing and loyal workforce, with many Unite members having worked at Ronez for more than two decades.

“The quarry staff are highly trained with many specialist skills that would not be easily transferable to other industries,” he added.

“Ronez also offers much needed quarrying apprenticeships for Guernsey’s young people.

“If the states do not support the new development at Chouet Headland these jobs and opportunities will be put at serious risk.”

By Ryan Fletcher