Bailiwick bubble back in place to the joy of many
MASKS had largely vanished yesterday as Guernsey moved into stage three of its exit from lockdown.
Most restrictions have now fallen away, although arrivals into the Bailiwick will still have to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.
The Bailiwick bubble has been reformed, allowing free movement between the islands.
Aurigny has seen a huge increase in bookings on its Alderney service. Just 52 people travelled from Guernsey to Alderney last week.
This week the airline has put on seven extra flights and already has more than 200 people booked so far.
That will be more than travelled to Alderney during the whole of February.
Sark Shipping customer services assistant Daniel MacDonald said it had seen a slow start to travel yesterday – with 35 travelling from Sark to Guernsey and 38 in the other direction. But he said it was gearing up for a busy period.
‘It will be very busy for Easter,’ he said.
‘People should definitely book in advance.’
Down at the inter-island quay, travellers were pleased to see the link with Sark reopened.
Ellie Clayton and her daughter Nala, 3, live on Sark. Miss Clayton said she enjoyed being able to travel to Guernsey to her best friend, Rosie O’Neale, as well as her nan.
‘It’s been really bizarre coming over today and being around Tarmac and cars,’ she said. ‘It’s really busy.’
As well as visiting friends, she also picked up a few treats she cannot get on Sark, such as Marks & Spencer doughnuts.
Marcus Barker has lived on Sark since 2018. He used yesterday’s trip to Guernsey to do some business, which included visiting an architect about renovating a derelict cottage.
‘It is strange to see cars everywhere,’ he said. ‘It’s like going to New York City.’
Amie Shuker lives in Guernsey. She last saw her Sarkee mum just before lockdown, as she was in Guernsey by chance when the Bailiwick locked down.
‘I looking forward to seeing her again,’ said Miss Shuker, who was travelling over with her Jack Russell, Winnie, who was also excited to get on the boat.
As well as seeing her mother and grandmother, she said she was looking forward to heading to the pub in Sark.
Yesterday also saw the end of the need for a travel permit to enter Guernsey from outside the jurisdiction. However, quarantine requirement is still in place.
Aurigny is still operating only three rotations a week to Southampton. Last week 95 people arrived into Guernsey, but this week there were 147 booked.