States must be bold and build the longer runway

I only hope that a significant number of our deputies also read the letter and if they didn’t, I would strongly urge them to do so.

Without doubt, our physical connectivity to the outside world is currently our most pressing issue, and needs the States’ immediate attention. This is a ‘can’ that can no longer be kicked down the road and it is time for our politicians to listen to the overwhelming clamour from all sectors of our community to address it now.

I won’t repeat the multiple arguments for why connectivity is so vital here, but the perception is that, publicly at least, the States has no clear strategic vision on this issue. Instead it appears to be left to individual departments to pick up and run with whichever part falls under their mandate and do what they think is best. Full credit perhaps for them doing something, but if ever there was a topic that needs a joined-up approach it is this one. Without wishing to sound too dramatic, we are talking about the future of our children, grandchildren and future generations.

Mr Hollis makes reference to the need for a proper business case for a longer runway to avoid falling foul of political pressures (Western deputies immediately spring to mind). I understand why that may be required, but I think there is an immediate and looming problem that could quickly override everything else, and maybe common sense might be more useful at this point.

Not much has been made locally about London Gatwick not getting the go-ahead for a second runway – all focus has been on the vague hope of a Heathrow link. Gatwick’s recent growth is putting ever more pressure on its runway capacity. How long will it be before it has to embargo aircraft of ATR capacity (72 seats) and if it does, how will Aurigny accommodate the loss of 288 seats a day? It would suggest that replacing the 122-seat Embraer with one of the much bigger capacity Airbus/737 range might be our only option. These aircraft are of course the workhorses of the aviation industry, and yes, they need that longer runway – so our reliance on our protected slots isn’t as robust as some people think if we can’t actually use them.

The States of old has had to make some big, bold decisions in the past, filling in the Braye du Valle, building the White Rock, the Val des Terres, the reservoir and building the airport in the first place. Thank goodness they did, and no doubt it was accompanied by all sorts of uproar, and they won’t have liked spending the money.

It is time for this States to do something bold now before we become the economic backwater that so many very sensible and grounded people feel it will become.

PAUL LE POIDEVIN,

La Maison Poitou, La Hougue Anthan,

St Peter’s, GY7 9BW.