Calls for Liberation cavalcade to visit west coast

One of the organisers of St Peters' Liberation Day celebrations has called for a separate cavalcade for Guernsey's west coast.

Anne Thomas, from St Peters, said she was calling for the community to "join together" to put on the proposed event.

The States of Guernsey said it had proposed a longer west coast route, but "respects that it is for the Cavalcade Committee as the organisers to decide".

Jeff Vidamour, cavalcade director, said the route for this year was a return to the "traditional route" used for the 50th anniversary and the route covering the whole island was only used during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The proposal from Ms Thomas followed criticism on social media the official cavalcade route excluded rural parishes including the west and south of the island.

Ms Thomas said she was "disappointed" the cavalcade route only covered the north and east coast, but was "confident" people would attend a separate west-only event if it was organised.

"[We could] still provide a shorter but more inclusive vehicle display for our wider community, possibly whilst enroute to the northern gathering," she added.

Karen Solway has suggested splitting up the cavalcade across multiple routes.

She told the BBC: "Other parishes are putting on events for people in their neighbourhood, and I just think it would have been nice if the cavalcade could have gone by some of theirs."

Suzanne Jäger-Martel, who also left a comment, said it was important any liberation celebration should be for everyone.

She said: "I don't think it should just be a holiday. I think it needs to be remembered for what it is, otherwise Guernsey is losing everything that's important."

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