Community and Sports Centre plans changed

REVISED plans have been submitted for the development of Alderney Community and Sports Centre at York Hill.

Trustee Richard Willmott said the new design fits in better with the surrounding area.

'We believe it makes better use of the site and is less intrusive,' said Richard, a former States member.

Alderney's Building and Development Control Committee members will discuss the plans at their next meeting.

Directline Structures has been appointed to oversee the project, which the trustees hope will be completed in spring 2012.

The final cost of the facility will be about £2.2m. To date, just £300,000 has been raised, though it is hoped Guernsey's States will support the project.

Trustees have also advertised for a manager to run the facility. The successful applicant will be expected to participate in final design and equipment discussions.

Richard said one person had already applied for the post, which is due to be advertised in the UK and across the Channel Islands.

The trust is currently planning to build a 25-metre swimming pool, sports hall, gym, dance studio and bowling alley.

The UK government has outlined the importance of working alongside the Channel Islands - including Alderney - to develop tidal energy.

A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said renewable power could secure Britain's energy supply and create economic opportunities.

Local company Alderney Renewable Energy is working to develop island waters and sell the power generated to Britain and France. It is currently working on a local hydro-electricity project, which could halve islanders' electricity bills by 2018.

'Some of the best resources for generating tidal power lie in waters off the Channel Islands. I am aware that there is a project looking at developing tidal resources in Alderney and building an inter-connector to provide a route to the British and French markets,' said the Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman.

'The opportunities for exploring tidal power were also discussed at the 20th British Irish Council Summit, where a paper was agreed setting out an "all islands approach" to energy resources.'

He said the aim was to work together to better exploit the abundant energy resources in the British islands and Ireland, as well as improve the collective security of supply and resolve legal, regulatory and constitutional barriers.

'Making more of the natural renewable resource available around our islands could benefit us all. It makes much more sense to trade clean, green, secure energy with our neighbours than import vast amounts of fossil fuels from far-flung parts of the world. As well as security of supply, this would create economic opportunities, sparking new projects and jobs which otherwise might not have happened.'