A potential new undersea tunnel was the hot topic of conversation over in Jersey and Guernsey this week. But the idea has been met with mixed reactions.
Both islands hosted roadshows with international experts exploring plans to link the Channel Islands with France. A campaign called Connect 3 Million is trying to ‘provide a fixed link between the Channel Islands for the long-term economic, environmental and social future of the region’.
Advocates say that a tunnel would help address the islands’ housing crises, labour shortages and on-and-off supply of food. The first phase would be connecting Jersey and Guernsey and the second would aim to link both islands to France.
Kirsten Morel, the economic development minister of the islands, said: ‘If we want to tackle the housing crisis, this is really one way we could do that. If we want to make sure food arrives every day, then this is one way to do that.’
But others are worried that it will lead to major traffic in the area. Jersey local Mark Baker told BBC News: ‘They were talking about having 24,000 movements between Jersey and France on a daily basis but Jersey is in gridlock three times a day, that’s just going to have us in total gridlock.’
Nothing’s set in stone yet. The second phase would have to have to get the green light from France if it’s to become a reality. If the plans do go ahead, it’s thought that the tunnel would take 10 years to build at an estimated cost of £25m per kilometre, plus £100m for the three stations.
Martyn Dorey, co-founder of Connect 3 Million, said: ‘Making it easier for everyone to reach the Channel Islands will transform the future for everyone. Our economies are strong but are being held back when we all need them to expand further.
‘This innovation will herald a boom across financial services, tourism and beyond.’
Elsewhere in the world of cross-Channel travel, Time Out has reported on news that Eurotunnel could soon link these four European cities with the UK, Richard Branson is planning to launch a rival to the Eurostar and Evolyn will be launching new rail routes to Paris in 2025.
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