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Alderney's community has breathed a collective sigh of relief after confirmation that plans for redeveloping the island's airport and runway will not be defunded.
The project has been given a maximum budget of £24million under a 'Green Paper' published this week by Guernsey's Policy and Resources Committee.
A contractor will now need to be found who can do the necessary work within the budget though - after the cheapest previous tender came in at £37m.
The fact that the airport and runway have been kept on the capital projects list has pleased Alderney's politicians, with the Policy & Finance Committee wanting to thank Guernsey's Chief Minister Lyndon Trott.
P&F said it "welcomes the Policy & Resources Committee's (P&R) Green Paper confirming that the rehabilitation of Alderney's failing runway is an essential capital project which must proceed".
Alderney's senior political committee is now waiting on the publication of a specific report on the runway project itself, which is referred to in P&R's Policy Letter.
P&F has asked to see that report as soon as possible so it can "understand the costs, methodology, the timelines of the project and funding contribution required from Alderney in relation to the already agreed £3.5m towards Option C+".
P&F notes that the Chief Minister is quoted as saying: "The Alderney Airport Runway Rehabilitation project will be debated by the States (of Guernsey) in the coming months and our Committee (P&R) considers that any solution must be contained within the original estimate of £24m to make it affordable".
In response, P&F's Deputy Chairman and Alderney Representative in the States of Guernsey, Edward Hill, said it was a positive move for his home island.
"The community (in Alderney) will breathe a collective sigh of relief at this confirmation and commitment from Guernsey's senior committee, as the airport is such a critical part of the Island's social and economic infrastructure.
"We now look forward to working with Guernsey to get the project delivered, following the lengthy delays which have already occurred since the States of Guernsey originally approved capital schemes for the rehabilitation in both 2019 and 2022."
Pictured: P&R confirmed this week that the project remains approved but with a strict budget.
Policy and Resources said it had decided that there are no "nice to haves" on the list of already agreed capital projects, which includes things like the PEH modernisation, flood defences, the new post-16 campus, and work to modernise the Bridge, as well as Alderney's airport and runway.
But P&R also warned that there is a £62m. shortfall in public funds to pay for all of these projects.
The Green Paper published earlier this week outlines P&R's plans for the portfolio of essential infrastructure projects that have already been agreed by this States.
When deputies voted against increasing income tax by 2% in December, the P&R President warned that it would leave a shortfall in States finances meaning the approved projects could not be paid for meaning some would have to be scaled back or scrapped.
Now, P&R has concluded that can not happen as "all infrastructure projects already approved by the States Assembly are essential and should continue".
The Green Paper outlines a way forward - which includes extending the timespan of some of the works to spread out the costs.
Essential work to proceed - but with no money to cover the costs
PEH plans could be split to ensure planned work goes ahead
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