Minister Peter Sirett told a Confederation of Guernsey Industry meeting
yesterday that his department had identified certain sites in the urban and
rural areas that could be used for commercial purposes.

He was reluctant to say where, but added that the board would be discussing
that later this month.

He said changes to the rural and urban area plans would be needed and that
would require a planning inquiry, which he hoped would take place in the
spring.

Deputy Sirett said the true level of demand for industrial space was not
known and the 'Fred in the shed¹ issue could not be fully addressed until
the whole island had been looked at in planning terms.

The Department had examined the list of people who had applied for space at
the Fontaine Vinery temporary storage site.

'Unfortunately, that doesn¹t give you the full picture. Some people are
reluctant to put their heads above the parapet as they are currently working
from places that might not be entirely legal,¹ he said.

The Department could not look at the problem of people working in places
unlawfully until the new planning law came into force, he said.

Reproduced with the permission of the Guernsey Press. With thanks to Mark Ogier of the Guernsey Press for providing the text and photograph.