Ferry could save Alderney

As has been said, Alderney's problems are also Guernsey's in that there are two islands but one economy. Failure of the Alderney economy impacts on the larger isle in terms of extra reliance on States resources.

Peter rightly highlights several problems besetting Alderney – depopulation, an imbalance in demographics with fewer young and working-age people and a growing number of aged, and the declining economy. But each of these are only the consequences of the primary problem – isolation.

For the last decade or so, the island has become increasingly difficult and expensive to reach. Ferry services ceased, Condor ending visits when they introduced car ferries, and air routes closed down so that now there are only the 'lifeline' ones to Guernsey and Southampton in, of late, increasingly-unreliable, small aircraft.

Although part of the Bailiwick, Alderney residents are not on a level playing field with Sarnians when it comes to transport links. Guernsey residents have direct access to ferries to the UK, Jersey and France, plus air routes to numerous destinations. To avail themselves of these same services – or just to make a necessary visit to Guernsey – Alderney residents regularly have to pay more than £100 for a return flight.

For a family of four to fly from Southampton to Alderney on the first day of Alderney Week next August, returning nine days later, booking seats now, more than eight months ahead, the air fares alone will set them back £1,048. Is it any wonder visitor numbers have dropped and people are less inclined to see Alderney as a good place to live?

The island will return to a sustainable basis only if its isolation is reduced. Reconstruction of the main runway at the airport, making it longer so that larger aircraft could use it, has been discussed, together with extending and tarmacing at least one of the grass crosswind runways. Just doing the main runway would cost tens of millions with no guarantee that any new airline would deem it viable to operate services to and from the island.

Subsidising flights might make it cheaper for existing travellers, but it will only be easier to travel if many additional flights are added. Increasing the number of flights would be very expensive because uneven demand will leave planes with too few passengers on one leg or the other, as is seen at peak travel periods.

The solution to Alderney's problems would be a seasonal fast passenger ferry from Weymouth, operating Fridays to Mondays. A suitable vessel has been identified. With ample capacity, it would be possible for people to decide to travel at short notice, though overheads can be covered with fewer than half the seats sold.

In addition to Alderney, it could run on to Sark, bringing day visitors to both islands. Day visits would introduce many people to Alderney. With ferry travel easy and affordable, many would return, and some would settle on the island.

Unlike air-travel expansion, it does not require any new infrastructure payment beyond the £1m. purchase cost of the vessel. What it needs is a commitment from our politicians to make the investment and for the States of Guernsey to guarantee start-up loans.

PETER ANNEREAU,

Butes Flats,

Alderney.