States harbourmaster Captain Robert Barton presented the plans

Hundreds of islanders and many deputies turned up at the new jetty terminal building to hear the Board of Administration's plans for St Sampson's Harbour.

The traditional harbour faces modernisation by the States in order to cope with the increasing number of leisure boats moored in the island.

States harbourmaster Captain Robert Barton presented the proposals, which have already met with fierce opposition in some quarters.

More than 4,000 people have signed a petition in support of keeping the harbour the way it is.

Mixed opinions

But some islanders attending the meeting had already made up their minds.

One islander said: "It will improve the area and there are a lot of people in the island who are waiting for boats and want to have somewhere to moor them."

Another resident said: "I think it will clean up the harbour and revitalise the area."

But one lady, who has lived in the harbour area all her life, said: "They should leave the harbour as it is.

"It's a working harbour and I want it to stay like that."