Future of Alderney’s Southampton route secure
ALDERNEY’S chief politician said the efforts of States members, residents and the civil service had helped to secure the future of the island’s direct route to Southampton for the foreseeable future.
James Dent announced that after a meeting between the members of the Committee for Economic Development and the States of Alderney it was agreed that there should be ‘continued support for both the Alderney to Guernsey and Alderney to Southampton air routes’.
Previously the committee had communicated to the States of Alderney that it proposed to remove its status as a lifeline route and recommend to the Policy & Resources Committee that in the event of no air operator offering to run the Southampton route as a fully commercial venture, the States would not be prepared to financially support it.
A campaign was mobilised to save the Southampton link, with a petition of 500 signatures presented to the committee and businesses urged to contact its members with their views.
Mr Dent said in a statement: ‘Although the Committee for Economic Development has yet to finalise its policy letter for debate in the States of Guernsey about future air and sea infrastructure, there is an agreement between the islands that both air routes should be subject to a Public Service Obligation with appropriate financial support if necessary.’
Mr Dent said the States of Alderney were delighted and relieved that agreement had been reached on the topic.
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
