Latest news with #EnvironmentandInfrastructure
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
States to look at motorbike and car noise limits
The States of Guernsey is looking at introducing potential restrictions on excessive noise from motorbikes, mopeds and cars. Environment and Infrastructure (E&I) and Home Affairs proposed carrying out a data collection trial to see if introducing a decibel limit could cut down on noise. Altering a vehicle's exhaust to deliberately increase noise would also become an offence under the proposals, bringing the bailiwick in line with Jersey and the UK. Home Affairs President Rob Prow said: "Motorbikes, mopeds and cars with excessively loud exhausts have been a growing problem in the bailiwick for some years." The trial would "evaluate the practicality of implementing noise thresholds" based on international best practices, the States said. E&I President Lindsay de Sausmarez said there was "longstanding public concern about the excessive noise that some vehicles create". The trial would help determine whether decibel limits or other measure were needed, but the group did not want to "hold up the more immediate progress", they said. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to 'It's the high-pitch engine that's relentless' States to look at how to tackle noisy vehicles Mixed reaction for 2025 Guernsey Rally States of Guernsey
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New website for buses when operator changes
A new website for bus information will be switched on when the island's operator changes, the States of Guernsey has announced. It said the new website would feature timetables, fares, maps and live tracking. UK-based Stagecoach will replace current provider CT Plus from 1 April after the firm won a five-year contract. A new app and Facebook page for bus information was also planned for the switchover date. Officials said bus timetables would generally remain the same and any credit or time remaining on a Puffinpass remain unaffected to ensure an "orderly transition" between the bus companies. CT Plus staff based in Guernsey were also given the opportunity to transfer to Stagecoach, they said. Environment and Infrastructure vice-president deputy Adrian Gabriel said the new website offered a better experience for bus users. "This is really important for regular bus users in Guernsey, but also for visitors we welcome to our island each year, many of whom are frequent bus users, and need simple, clear access to the latest bus information online," he said. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Guernsey bus prices rise by up to 15% New firm to run bus network from April States of Guernsey
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Landlords raise concerns about new housing laws
There are concerns from landlords that new minimum housing standards laws on Guernsey are not meeting the Island's needs. Changes included a new Director of Housing Standards and giving the committee regulatory powers on hazards and minimum standards of homes. President of the Landlords Association, Jeff Guilbert said: "I think this will just tip quite a few more over the edge and they're just going to leave the industry. The President of the Environment and Infrastructure said that "modernisation of the legislation has been needed for sometime." Mr Guilbert said: "We haven't got new blood coming into it. It's not a financially advantageous business to be in at the present time." As of 3 March 2024, The Landlords Association represented 317 landlords with 2,412 units of accommodation plus 38 houses in multiple occupancy (HMOs) with 204 beds. Despite concerns, Deputy CEO of Citizen's Advice Guernsey, Annie Ashmead said: "The people who come to us are reporting living in sub-standard accommodation, properties poorly maintained, damp, mould, ingress of water. "Although they may represent a small minority of the number of people who rent on this Island - they are still people. "We have on average around 40 people a year reporting issues with the housing conditions they live in and it needs to be addressed." The President of the Environment and Infrastructure, Lindsay de Sausmarez said: "This modernisation of the legislation has been needed for sometime." Some people have raised concerns online about the scope of the new legislation. One user said they felt a landlord "now has the legal right to rifle through your personal belongings anytime to see if any of your possessions might be hazardous to you." Deputy de Sausmarez responded by saying: "I don't know what to say about this one. It's just not right. There's nothing right about that at all." Islanders had questions about the powers the new director would have to enter their property, what work they could request them do to their property and the right to go through tenants' belongings. Deputy de Sausmarez said: "The Director or Inspectors can only take reasonable actions where they can prove, they can demonstrate to the satisfaction of a court that the action is entirely necessary and appropriate." The draft law needs to get royal assent and go through procedural processes before it can be fully introduced in Guernsey law. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to States approves more regulation of landlords 'My landlord's going to have to take us to court' Islanders invited to have say on renters rights States of Guernsey - Housing Standards Legislation
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Guernsey's E&I President busts myths about new housing law
There are concerns from landlords that new minimum housing standards laws on Guernsey are not meeting the Island's included a new Director of Housing Standards and giving the committee regulatory powers on hazards and minimum standards of of the Landlords Association, Jeff Guilbert said: "I think this will just tip quite a few more over the edge and they're just going to leave the industry. The President of the Environment and Infrastructure said that "modernisation of the legislation has been needed for sometime." Mr Guilbert said: "We haven't got new blood coming into it. It's not a financially advantageous business to be in at the present time."As of 3 March 2024, The Landlords Association represented 317 landlords with 2,412 units of accommodation plus 38 houses in multiple occupancy (HMOs) with 204 beds. Despite concerns, Deputy CEO of Citizen's Advice Guernsey, Annie Ashmead said: "The people who come to us are reporting living in sub-standard accommodation, properties poorly maintained, damp, mould, ingress of water. "Although they may represent a small minority of the number of people who rent on this Island - they are still people. "We have on average around 40 people a year reporting issues with the housing conditions they live in and it needs to be addressed." The President of the Environment and Infrastructure, Lindsay de Sausmarez said: "This modernisation of the legislation has been needed for sometime."Some people have raised concerns online about the scope of the new user said they felt a landlord "now has the legal right to rifle through your personal belongings anytime to see if any of your possessions might be hazardous to you." Deputy de Sausmarez responded by saying: "I don't know what to say about this one. It's just not right. There's nothing right about that at all." 'Reasonable actions' Islanders had questions about the powers the new director would have to enter their property, what work they could request them do to their property and the right to go through tenants' belongings. Deputy de Sausmarez said: "The Director or Inspectors can only take reasonable actions where they can prove, they can demonstrate to the satisfaction of a court that the action is entirely necessary and appropriate." The draft law needs to get royal assent and go through procedural processes before it can be fully introduced in Guernsey law.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Deputies seek solution to save diving board
Deputies are investigating the potential to deepen a bathing pool in Guernsey to save a public diving board that had to close for safety reasons. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) last month served a prohibition notice in relation to the board at La Vallette Bathing Pools, following reports of incidents and near misses. It said the depth of the water under the platform fell below international standards and should be removed. Environment and Infrastructure President Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said: "The committee is in the process of assessing the extent of work required, which may lead to a financial bid to deliver works to further improve the pool." On top of deepening the pool, de Sausmarez said other measures being investigated included doing work on the walls and adding additional safety measures such as equipment and information. De Sausmarez said she was hopeful the work would mean "this much-loved swimming facility can continue to be safely used by locals and visitors alike". HSE said the maximum depth of the water below the diving platform was 2.75m (9ft) which did not meet the 3.2m (10.5ft) minimum depth required by the World Aquatics and British Standards. Originally, the diving board was supposed to be removed within a week but plans were halted after hundreds of islanders turned out to demonstrate the public's "strength of feeling" about keeping the diving board. De Sausmarez said: "I can't commit to any time frames at the moment because there are a few variables that we still don't yet know but I can say that we are not hanging around. "So we are not delaying, we are getting on with this as soon as we possibly can." She added even if work was completed the diving board still may not be able to reopen. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Diving board removal paused to explore options Calls to save diving board after removal notice Guernsey Bathing Pools win top architecture award States of Guernsey
