SARK residents have shown strong enthusiasm to participate in a long-term sustainability plan for the island.
Almost 200 people, equating to about 30% of the population, crammed into the Island Hall recently to take part in a meeting about the future of Sark, which ranks fourth in population size among the Channel Islands.
The event was organised by the Prince’s Foundation, a charity set up by King Charles III during his time as the Prince of Wales. The foundation was invited to Sark by the Sark Property Company, of which Seigneur Christopher Beaumont is a director, with the intention of using the same ‘Community Capital Assessment and Visioning Exercise’ format applied by the foundation in other locations.
Residents were invited to map out their views across various activities, which focused on the natural, social, financial and built aspects of the island.
Mr Beaumont said he hoped the report produced by the foundation would be ‘difficult to ignore’, adding that he was delighted with the turnout.
Feedback from the session was due to be evaluated yesterday ahead of the publication of the report this summer.
Sark’s parliament – the Chief Pleas – was not consulted on the intention to bring the foundation to the island. Politicians have since been notified, with elected members saying they reserved the right to comment at a later stage having gained a better understanding of the exercise.
