Shooting club takes a pot shot at survey

A club representative said it appeared that the States of Alderney’s Policy & Finance members Ian Carter and Bill Abel, who are responsible for the survey, did not appear to consider shooting sports to be worthy of inclusion, feedback nor support and development.

‘We have no issue with professionally conducted surveys that are thoroughly reviewed, signed-off as being fit for purpose and inclusive by the responsible States members,’ they said.

‘However, at £9,000, this four- page survey seems quite the opposite.

‘We believe members Abel and Carter owe the public an explanation of why the survey omits major leisure activities, in our case a leisure/sports club that constituted 40% of our Island Games team.

‘A remarkable omission, in our opinion, considering our primary use of one of the speculated sites mentioned in the survey.’

A surprised Mr Carter said that the omission of shooting had just been an oversight.

‘If we have caused offence I can only apologise, there was no slight intended,’ he said.

‘I am completely supportive of the sport, having shot at Bisley myself and coached shooting at a school.

‘I have nothing but admiration for what they do.’

He also said the survey had not cost £9,000, but was part of a much larger piece of work into the needs of the community for leisure spaces, from anything from dancing classes to toddler groups, and was not just consigned to sport.

The ASC said it would be grateful if islanders would complete the online survey and mention ‘shooting or shooting facilities’ wherever you see ‘other’.

In a social media post, the shooting club said it wanted to publicly thank States members Nigel Vooght, Lin Maurice, Alex Snowdon, Steve Roberts, Bruce Woodhead, Derwent Smithurst and Kevin Gentle for their continued collaboration and support with in relation to the use of Fort Albert.

‘We offer no comment regarding the other three elected States members at this time*,’ it said, before adding cryptically: ‘We offer no comment as to which other island organisation may benefit from this poorly conducted survey.’

* The three Alderney States members not mentioned being Ian Carter, Bill Abel and Boyd Kelly.