Runway petition delights Alderney Chamber head
The president of the Alderney Chamber of Commerce has said he is ‘delighted’ that a petition calling for resurfacing work to begin on the island’s airport runway within the next few months has been started.
Andrew Eggleston was set to share the petition – which was announced earlier this week by Riduna Radio presenter Ian Taylor and as of yesterday had collected more than 900 signatures – to Chamber members imminently, and predicted that all members would come out in support of it.
He said it had come at a critical time for the island.
‘The island feels let down by the lack of positive news on the runway.
‘The ramifications if work was not to be done would hit the economy beyond belief,’ he said.
‘Issues for our tourism and healthcare immediately spring to mind.
‘What will those Alderney residents requiring cancer treatment do if they can’t get off the island?
‘The States of Guernsey can’t afford to fly in a helicopter every time, it would cost a fortune.’
He was annoyed by what he called ‘prevarication’ over the last four or five years by the Guernsey government in relation to work on the runway commencing.
The States last year scrapped plans to replace and extend the runway, as well as rebuild the airport’s passenger terminal, after it emerged the cost of the work had risen from £24.1m. to £37m. following a tender process.
‘They announced plans a long time ago, but in the meantime costs have soared,’ Mr Eggleston said.
‘If they’d got on with it when they said they were going to we wouldn’t have this problem.’
He said his hopes had been restored a little after listening to Guernsey politician Jonathan Le Tocq, the external relations lead for the Policy & Resources committee, give assurances that the runway would be repaired during an interview on Riduna Radio in November.
But he said a definitive date needed to be announced, with the island not able to wait much longer.
‘Over the cold winter months no doubt more serious damage will be done to the runway with ice.
‘It needs resurfacing, widening by a few metres either side, and centre lighting needs to be installed.
‘It’s not over the top what we are asking for, but it must go ahead as quickly as possible.’
