JERSEY must do more to harness tidal energy – that was the unanimous view of the 21 Senatorial candidates in Grouville last night.
At the third hustings, several candidates also proposed more use of wind and solar power, and a handful said that tidal energy turbines could be combined with a bridge to France which would probably run from Grouville to near Granville.
The 21 candidates are vying for six places on the Senatorial bench, with a six-year term, in the election on Wednesday 5 October.
In response to a question from parishioner Peter Walsh, Deputy Peter Troy said that generating electrical power was a good idea and that a bridge to France would be a massive structure which would need a lot of money.
Montfort Tadier said: ‘We cannot just build a bridge to get tidal generation. If we do that separately, there is no reason why we cannot adopt it.’
Nick Palmer said that the bridge to France was a brilliant idea that was in his manifesto, and that it would allow the Island to sell electricity.
Adrian Walsh said that tidal generation was a great idea, but asked if there was a bridge to France, ‘how many people would be left here at the weekend?’.
Deputy Alan Breckon said it was ‘a bridge too far’ but asked whether the questioner had run out of faith with Senator Philip Ozouf, Deputy Alan Maclean and HD Ferries.
Mark Forskitt said that tidal power should absolutely be produced but he did not want to wait for a bridge to France.
Trevor Pitman said it was 20 years too late for a bridge to France but added that the States should look into tidal power.
Jeremy Maçon said that no-one on the panel would speak against tidal power, and that a bridge to France was a good idea to consider.
Daniel Wimberley said tidal power had massive potential and was a wonderful idea.
Senator Paul Routier said he was initially excited by a bridge, but would leave it open for discussion and ‘not rule it out’.
Nick Le Cornu said that a bridge to France was ‘completely ludicrous’ and had been used as a diversion.
Deputy Alan Maclean said the idea of a bridge would reduce the problems he had had with ferry companies.
Deputy Geoff Southern said that the bridge was a non-starter, but added that he was supportive of tidal energy, subject to seeing that the economics stacked up.
Mike Higgins said that tidal power was one kind of renewable power that should be reviewed, but added that a bridge to France would subsume Jersey’s culture into a European one.
Mick Pashley said tidal energy was a fantastic idea but that the bridge would cost millions and would be ‘a non-event’.
Chris Perkins said he was not sure about the cost issues but loved the idea of tidal power.
Senator Philip Ozouf said he was on the energy policy group but had concerns about taking huge risks with public money.
Cliff Le Clercq said that the Island was not capable of handling its own waste, let alone building a bridge to France.
Ian Le Marquand said they should look at tidal power but foresaw problems with traffic, illegal immigration and drug imports if there was a bridge to France.
Senator Mike Vibert said that he supported tidal power but felt that a bridge was too ambitious.
Deputy Sarah Ferguson said that with regard to tidal power, the Island had the materials and expertise and should go ahead and do it.
• Picture: Tidal power was given the thumbs-up by candidates last night but the idea of building a bridge to France was given a mixed reception
Article posted on 26th September, 2008 - 2.55pm
25 Article Comments
And in twenty more years neither idea will have come to fruition. Talk Talk and more talk and no action that will be the course of the day for the next bunch of muppets.
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A Bridge? people are complaining about paying GST as the states have squindered all the money, and still there are some people who want Jersey to spend hundreds of millions on a bridge!
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Not quite right again. I said that it was important to consider the implications of a bridge. Notably the impact on immigration, jobs and housing.
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Get the Norwegians in to build the bridge. They are fantastic when it comes to this sort of work
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A bridge is really not a bad idea at all when you consider the impact it would have.
For starters, we would no longer be subject to the prices charged by the likes of Condor to get ourselves or our cars to France. Not only does this open up the continent to more of us, but it makes Jersey considerably more accessible to the rest of Europe, including the UK via the chunnel.
This has excellent implications for tourism and trade, for us and the French. Maybe they’d even foot some of the bill if we asked nicely?
A bridge to France would also remove our dependance on ferries and aircraft for our supermarket stocks, courier deliveries, etc.
Toll charges would cover the intial cost over time and pay for ongoing maintenance, just as it does for bridges and motorways elsewhere.
As for tidal power, it’s incredible that we’ve yet to take advantage of it. We are situated in a bay with one of the largest tidal flows in the world. Why aren’t we making use of this inexhaustable supply of free, natural energy instead of paying someone else for it?
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The States have been struggling over the idea of building a new incinerator for over a decade.
Sort out the incinerator issue, start building the thing and then start thinking about tidal power.
As for building a bridge to France, words fail me.
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I wonder if the amount of electricity produced (and sold abroad) could be used to repay the cost of the bridge?
If we take the Wikepedia statistics from the Rance tidal power plant and scaling up, we can see the turbines would produce about 3 million MWh per year. At (say) £25 per MWh profit, that is £75 million profit a year.
This could certainly pay the interest (or dividends) on a the £1 billion it is estimated to cost.
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Do you have any idea on the cost of building a structure like that? How exactly would we pay for it? A toll would only contribute a small amount because you cannot overprice it or we wouldn’t get the required numbers using it in order to make it economically viable. For crying out loud – we are still paying for the monstrous overspend on the airport all those years ago through taxes levied on flights! Do you really want to pay more tax in order to build a bridge to France? Are you having a laugh? We’d still be paying off the cost of building it in twenty or thirty years time, if not later! Not in my taxes thank you very much!
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I luv the idea of a bridge to France…it certainly would make a difference to many people, at least they would have somewhere to go at weekends, rather than just driving around the same old roads week in and week out,with really no where to go at the end of it, come on this would be the making of the Rock..
A toll charge would be ideal, at least money would be made to keep the bridge up together..Other places do it so why can’t Jersey..
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This is an excellent idea which could definitely pay for itself, would be a huge boost to tourism and would have a marked social impact on everyone that lives here. A bridge, combined with a tidal power barrage beneath the road link, could save the Island, which is exactly why the States won’t do it. They have neither the vision nor the courage for big ideas like this.
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Being originally from Southampton, the subject of a bridge to the Isle of Wight was discussed many times.
The Islanders were for it on the grounds of commerce, but totally against it on the grounds of safety. They also believed as a tourist destination it would lose it’s charm and identity if visitors didn’t have to ‘go out of their way’ to visit.
I think it’s exactly the same for Jersey
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Darren, I work in tourism and I don’t know if you’ve noticed but there aren’t very many visitors coming to the island any more… because they have to come out of their way. Now Condor and the States have managed to push yet another rival ferry company out there needs to be another way off this rock with ours cars, and for visitors to get onto it for Europe!
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And the people that have commented on problems with immigration, I am presuming that you mean problems with illegal Jersey immigrants trying to live and work in France? Anyone from the EU isn’t an illegal immigrant in Jersey, and the workers coming from non-Eu countries are the people we should be encouraging to work here, at least most of them are qualified and speak the language!
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A bridge….Great idea! Just think, nipping over to France to do the weekly shop, so much cheaper than here. Maybe buying a property in France (more affordable)and commuting to work in Jersey.
No more relying on airlines and ferries to get off the rock.
A couple of reasons it won’t be done, protect the airlines, ferries, Checkers and the local property owner
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Darren, the only problem with Jersey’s situation is that visitors are not going out of their way to come here at all. Quite the opposite. Visitor numbers have dropped by over 25% over the last ten years, mostly because of the cost of getting here (flights etc.) compared to other destinations. Tourism is our second industry and the only safety belt we have for when the finance industry leaves/is expelled/destroys itself. A bridge, funded by the EC and its own electricity sales is critically important for many reasons.
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The bridge is technically feasable and the idea is exciting. However our government will never consider it as house prices in Jersey will tumble heavily and this subject is sacred as far as they are concerned. Many people will be left with negative equity
Imagine living in France with no ferry to take to go anywhere in this beautiful country in a very affordable and large house….. After croissants and coffee drive down to work in Jersey
At the weekend visit the local markets etc
One problem: where will you pay tax, here or in France or in both countries. Well worth any toll to pay for the bridge
Unfortunately it will never happen…
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in yer dreamz matey
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Build the bridge! A great idea. It shouldn’t affect property prices too much over here, people will want to remain residents of Jersey not least because of the tax advantages. Also, I would guess that many would prefer to live and work in Jersey with the ability to go to France over the bridge, rather than live in France and commute to Jersey.
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After 181 days you will pay tax in France and in Jersey because our Dear Leaders have bent over backwards to protect the banks but abandoned their taxpayers as usual. The UK has a double tax agreement with France, Jersey hasn’t bothered because it only affect the citizenry, not the Finance Industry.
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That is a good point Bruce. I live in the UK, and was taxed in both Jersey and the UK on my CI Traders dividends, so I was pleased to get rid of the shares.
Although I would love to buy shares in a Jersey Bridge Company, I would not do so if I am to suffer double taxation again.
An idea I have suggested on another forum is for the bridge to carry trains rather than cars. The trains could be linked to the French Railway system. This would be much more pleasant in poor weather. If Jersey people really need to take their cars, they could be put in Eurostar transporters. This would save loads of cars jamming up the bridge every morning while trying to find a parking space in St. Helier. Also, if there was the will, maybe the railway line could be extended to Red Houses.
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am i dreaming? a bridge to france!it is the first of october not april the first!!
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I have a feeling that this idea might not be very popular with the French. For a start it would interfere with their shipping and fishing and would affect the amount of control they have over who is coming into France from somewhere which is outside of the E.E.C.
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All really good ideas, like trading with the country that is closest to us and would actually mean an improvement in living standards, lower food costs and better quality, are, of course the last thing that we want.
Building a bridge is a challenge but it would deliver 24 hour access, and a pan European tourist industry, and perhaps we could even get a French company to pay for it?
No let’s put up with Flybe, Horribly Delayed Ferries and food nearly past its sell by date, after all this is Jersey?
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A bridge would be a good idea providing our government could negotiate the appropriate deals with the Manche Government and solve a lot of problems associated with living on a small rock. For starters ability for many to commute would free up our housing stock and the need to rezone land. Utilities could be piped in as we already do with our electric. Maybe we could negotiate the purchase of land and move our airport??.
Yes the cost would be enormous but with mutual benefit maybe we could reach a deal with the EU. Certainly if the proposed investor protection goes ahead maybe our strategic reserve would be safer tied up in concrete and steel rather than given away to the customers of a failed bank.
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The glory days of Bergerac and a booming tourist industry have gone. I don’t see how a monstrosity connecting us to France will solve our problems. The roads will be completely blocked. It certainly won’t encourage families to return for their annual 2 week break
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