Alderney runway under STSB’s remit, not P&R

I AM NO doubt responsible and accountable for all sorts of unpopular things in my capacity as treasury lead on P&R, but I would wish to clarify that rehabilitating the runway in Alderney is not one of them, in case anyone got the wrong idea from Richard Digard’s article on the topic on Friday 4 February [Runway ‘rehab’ riddle].

The Alderney runway work is actually being developed by STSB under the watchful eye of Deputy Roffey and its various members and I do not yet know the costings of different options.

Nor am I aware of the CAA being in the driving seat. They will have oversight of licensing but operationally that is a matter for STSB and the ports board, not me personally or P&R.

As chairman of the Bailiwick Council I am happy, indeed proud, to admit that I am a great supporter of Alderney, as I am of Sark.

Having a friendly and cooperative relationship enables us to have difficult and at times very challenging discussions about saving costs in relation to transferred and other services (including PSO flights) which might otherwise be entrenched in fixed positions. In fact, Guernsey and Alderney meet regularly to investigate and establish joint working that is to our mutual benefit.

My approach has been and will remain that if Alderney and Sark’s economies do well, we all benefit as a Bailiwick. We need to make progress on many difficult constitutional and cost issues and that cannot in my view happen effectively in an atmosphere of mistrust or hostility. Working together well is a positive, not a negative, for our Bailiwick.

DEPUTY MARK HELYAR

Treasury lead

Policy & Resources Committee