The huge scaffolding structure around the terminal started going up in April 2024. It took until last Christmas to fully enclose the building, ready for a full engineering survey of its roof.
T&G Structural Engineers has now been appointed to survey the roof, but any problems found are likely to take time to fix.
New States’ Trading Supervisory Board president Mark Helyar said he knew everyone would like to see the roof repaired as quickly as possible.
‘But the scaffolding cannot be removed until the structure has been inspected, repaired and declared safe,’ he said.
‘Regrettably, the government’s continued structural deficit and the fact that the ports have a substantial list of repairs, which we already cannot afford to fund, means that the timescale for completion of any necessary repairs remains uncertain.’
In the 2025 Budget Guernsey Ports was forecasting a loss of £4.5m. for 2024, which was blamed on higher than planned expenditure at Guernsey Airport.
That Budget recommended that a study be undertaken into providing a subsidy for Guernsey Airport.
In a farewell interview last Christmas, Colin Le Ray, outgoing managing director of Guernsey Ports, also warned that an airport subsidy was likely to be needed due to an over-reliance on commercial income.
The 21-year-old roof, which sits at the highest point in Guernsey, has suffered long-standing problems, with damage caused by high winds.
The most recent problem was in November 2023, when Storm Ciaran dislodged several panels, which fell onto the apron area.
The scaffolding was then installed to prevent further damage.
Structural engineers have already completed desktop studies, including a review of site plans and maintenance records, to establish priorities for closer inspection.
The detailed on-site survey is also under way, with an inspection of the upper roof. Sections are being opened up for inspection. Work will then move to the ground floor roof, which will require some restricted access near the arrivals door for public safety.
Once the inspection is complete, a detailed report will identify options for long-term repair.
But due to the length of time it took to install the scaffolding, it is expected to stay in place until that work is carried out.
Guernsey Ports Airport Director Richard Thomasson said that while the scaffolding was not the first or last impression anyone wanted of Guernsey Airport, it was performing an important function.
‘It provides a layer of protection to the current structure and sustaining aerodrome operations, so will need to remain in place until we can deliver a long-term solution,’ he said.
‘The survey is an important milestone, as it will provide the clear answers needed to decide those next steps and the likely costs.
'We need to understand these before we can address how this work can be funded, and it will need to be prioritised alongside other critical infrastructure maintenance across Guernsey Ports.’
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