Petition urges immediate runway resurfacing

An online petition is calling for urgent action to resurface the Alderney Airport runway by the end of March.

The petition, signed by 1,000 people, highlights the need "to save our failing economy" and ensure the airport remains operational.

More than £2m has been spent on repairs to Alderney's runway over the last 10 years.

The petition warns that without immediate action, the island's economy could suffer, and residents might leave. The States of Guernsey said "we cannot continue spending money we don't have" and following the budget, "a review of the portfolio of infrastructure projects is now needed".

Ian Taylor, who launched the petition on Riduna Radio, said the runway "needs digging up and replacing".

"We just need a serviceable runway where people can land," said Mr Taylor, the manager of the radio station.

"If action isn't taken the hotels are going to start to be empty, even during Alderney Week because people can't get on the island."

He said the runway was "constantly" being shut for repairs due to water damage.

"It's going to get at the point where, if the runway is shut, there are going to be 2,100 people on a rock on the English Channel with no way of getting off.

"We need a concrete date from the States of Guernsey that says we will start on this date, and we will aim to have it completed by this date."

Deputy Lyndon Trott, President of the Policy & Resources Committee, said: "As the committee made unequivocally clear throughout the budget debate, the portfolio of infrastructure projects would need to be reviewed if the assembly was unable to agree the temporary increase in the personal rate of income tax.

"This increase, as clearly explained by our committee both in the lead up to the debate and throughout the four-day meeting, was essential to address the immediate financial challenge we face and secure the continued investment in infrastructure.

"That is why we called it a budget for infrastructure, as the proposal to temporarily increase the personal rate of income tax would have enabled us to continue investing in the capital projects this assembly agreed were essential.

"But we cannot continue spending money we don't have and unfortunately – and this is not what the Policy & Resources Committee wanted – a review of the portfolio of infrastructure projects is now needed.

"The committee will publish recommendations later this month, but we must ensure our island is fiscally responsible."

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