Runway delay motions could clip Public Services' wings

PLANS to fix the airport runway face a raft of obstacles in the States this week.

Four amendments and a sursis have been proposed by deputies.

Deputy David De Lisle's sursis, seconded by Deputy John Gollop, would mean the Public Services Department would have to come back with a replacement report that complies more fully with the Rural Area Plan.

He said it would also have to include more accurate figures and fuller pricing details, taking into account social and environmental costs to the airport's neighbours.

'Their options conflict very seriously with government policy,' said Deputy De Lisle (pictured).

'They are not fully compliant with the Rural Area Plan and that is serious.

'Plus, it is very difficult for members to compare the different options when costs are not given - and the costs that are there are faulty.'

Deputy De Lisle has also proposed an amendment to approve Public Services' Option A with Emas.

That would involve retaining a 1,463-metre runway and incorporating an engineered materials arrester system at its ends - an expanse of crushable material designed to collapse under a runaway plane's wheels to bring it to a halt.

'I don't think there is any real problem with delaying it,' said Deputy De Lisle.