Sark Electricity to undergo compulsory purchase

Sark Electricity Ltd (SEL) is set to be bought by Chief Pleas under a compulsory purchase arrangement.

Conseillers voted 10 to three in favour and also agreed to fund the purchase with a loan from the States of Guernsey.

The decision will halt the company's sale to Island Power for more than £2m which had previously been agreed.

SEL's owner Alan Witney-Price said he had already begun legal proceedings against Chief Pleas.

Policy and Finance chairman Conseiller John Guille said: "It's a relief. We are very happy.

"It's an absolutely crucial milestone.

"We are progressing through compulsory purchase where we didn't want to end up.

"The next step will be to work with Mr Witney-Price to try to jointly appoint a valuer."

Conseiller Mike Locke, chairman of the Future Energy committee, said: "I am very pleased, not only with the decision but the margin.

"We do understand conseillers and islanders have concerns and [we] want to make sure things are absolutely right," he said.

"We share those concerns."

Chief Pleas has 30 days to jointly agree a valuer to progress to the next stages of the compulsory purchase.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Witney-Price said he was still open to negotiating with Chief Pleas.

He said it had no right to halt the sale to Island Power which was set to be completed on 3 July.

"I've written to Chief Pleas six, seven, eight, nine times in the last 10 days," he said.

"Every piece of that correspondence says: 'We're here, reach out, come and have a conversation'."

Mr Witney-Price said he had offered Chief Pleas a "partial purchase" as they could not afford "the full value of the company".

However, he said it had been rejected.

"They are not interested - they just want to buy it at a discounted value," he said.

Chief Pleas and SEL now have 30 days to appoint a joint valuer.

Mr Witney-Price nominated Grant Thornton as a prospective valuer, which will will be considered by Chief Pleas and, if accepted, the next stages can begin.

Mr Witney Price said: "Personally I can tell you that there is significant relief within my family and I that this chapter of our life will soon be over.

"We are honestly delighted to be escaping the nonsense that is Chief Pleas."

There have been mixed opinions from people living in Sark.

Andy Cook said he was worried about the legal action from SEL.

"My main concern is that the whole issue will end up in a massive court battle with undetermined costs and we won't be quite sure how that's going to pan out," he said.

Bernadette Southern, who works at the Fleur De Jardin, said she thought the process had "gone on and on".

She added: "I don't think it really matters who owns it.

"I think the island needs a good service and the electric needs to be at a good price."

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