The Managing Director of Sark Electricity is proposing a new settlement to end the long-running dispute with Chief Pleas.
The letter from Alan Witney-Price was sent to a wide range of influential figures, including the Chief Plea Committee Office in Sark, His Excellency, the Governor of Guernsey, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, (the House of Lords), and Guernsey Deputies, (via The States of Guernsey).
A brief recap
Around the same time, it was reported that SEL’s owner, Alan Witney-Price, had an agreement to sell the company to Island Power, with the deal expected to finalise in July 2025.
However, by June 2025, the private sale to Island Power collapsed, with Witney-Price blaming Chief Pleas’ actions. Consequently, Chief Pleas formally voted to proceed with the compulsory purchase of SEL in July 2025.
IslandPower has since publicly criticised Chief Pleas’ compulsory purchase plans, suggesting a different approach for Sark’s energy future.
The latest letter
Now with this latest letter, Mr Witney-Price’s has issued a “direct appeal” for an out-of-court settlement, framed against the backdrop of the escalating dispute that intensified significantly in recent months.
The core of his appeal stems from the fact that in early 2024, Chief Pleas committed to compulsorily purchasing SEL, while Witney-Price was simultaneously attempting a private sale to Island Power.
He continues to state that this was effectively undermined when the States of Guernsey approved a £1.5 million loan to Sark in early 2025 to facilitate the compulsory purchase. He claims this led to the collapse of the private sale, and concluded with Chief Pleas formally commencing compulsory purchase proceedings by June 2025.
Witney-Price states he is writing “in accordance with the expectation of the Courts”, and emphasises that a “quiet resolution” is “directly in the hands of those named on this correspondence”.
From his perspective, Mr Whitney-Price squarely lays blame on the “dysfunction within Chief Pleas and the failures of those around it”, asserting that this has led to a “tragic and entirely avoidable” situation, even suggesting it’s “criminal and a total failure of good governance”.
He states Chief Pleas has made “no such effort to work with SEL to resolve legitimate difficulties”.
The letter highlights the “significant and entirely avoidable expense” impacting both Sark and Guernsey communities, arguing these costs are better spent on “education, healthcare, policing and others”.
He’s also focused on the fact Guernsey taxpayers are indirectly funding Sark’s legal battles.
Mr Witney-Price cited a Guernsey Press disclosure about the Law Officers of the Crown, (LOC), being “beyond breaking point” and using external law firms at a cost, such as £100,000 for one eviction.
He goes on to challenge any assurances that Guernsey taxpayers wouldn’t pay for the Sark Compulsory Purchase Law expenses, claiming Sark pays the LOC at a “highly discounted rate” and that Chief Pleas has historically cost Guernsey residents over £1 million annually.
He suggests the “unnecessary legal challenges that stem from Chief Pleas” are increasing the LOC’s workload and external costs, regardless of who ultimately pays.
Witney-Price references ‘The Greek Monasteries’ case to argue that any interference with property rights must strike a “fair balance” and show a “reasonable relationship of proportionality” between the means employed and the aim sought.
He states that Chief Pleas has “repeatedly assured for years” that its Policy and Finances Committee would meet with SEL to discuss concerns, but “These assurances have not materialised”.
The central request of the letter is for the MoJ, Government House, and Chief Pleas representatives to “sit down with” Mr Witney-Price to try to find a solution. He urges Guernsey States members to encourage this meeting, offering to meet “at any time and place” without initial conditions, even on a “without prejudice basis”.
He also asks for public support for such a meeting, clarifying it “simply supports common sense and the expectation of the Courts”.
Witney-Price’s letter is a plea to de-escalate a costly and contentious legal battle that has spiralled due to the recent compulsory purchase actions, appealing to common sense, financial prudence, and judicial expectations.
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