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Policy and Resources decision to cut the air fare subsidy for Alderney residents will have "major repercussions" for the island warns a States Member, who is now calling for P&R to get around the table and thrash out a different solution with Alderney's Policy and Finance committee.
Alex Snowdon says he has concerns the fare increase imposed on passengers flying between Alderney and Guernsey and Alderney and Southampton will affect the island's economy and could lead to the Southampton route being scaled back or dropped completely.
Mr Snowdon - who was re-elected to office on Saturday - has also said that the island was only informed of the decision less than two days before it was announced publicly, leaving the States without enough time to consider its options and respond.
States Members were alerted to the decision on Wednesday lunchtime last week, after the States was informed "late on Tuesday", with an emergency meeting held to discuss the matter on Thursday morning. While that meeting was underway, the States of Guernsey announced the decision publicly.
Mr Snowdon said this shows the "little regard" that P&R has for Alderney.
"Straight away the States of Alderney had an emergency meeting to try and find a way forward about this shocking news on the Thursday morning. But I understand Policy and Resources was headstrong in potentially going ahead no matter what, and not listening to the States of Alderney, in my view.
Pictured: "We are extremely disappointed at the serious lack of engagement prior to being informed of this decision by letter late on Tuesday November 12th and I immediately asked for a meeting with P&R as a matter of urgency and I am awaiting a response," said Alderney's Policy & Finance Committee Chairman Nigel Vooght last week.
"So we had the emergency meeting, and when we were in that emergency meeting, the press release went out at half past nine/ten o'clock that went to the media that said that this shocking news is going to take place, but there's been no impact assessments on the ramifications.
"To my knowledge the Alderney/Southampton route is worth £1.8 million to the Alderney economy, so this is shocking news," he said.
Mr Snowdon said he, and other people, initially though the decision to reduce the taxpayer-funded subsidy for Alderney's air links, to bring it back in line with the agreed amount for 2024, was linked to the 2025 Budget that had been debated the week before.
While the States of Guernsey had agreed to introduce a GST+ package from 2027 onwards, in a bid to address the Bailiwick's growing financial problems, there was no funding mechanism agreed to pay for capital projects in the short term, including the Alderney runway rehabilitation, work at the PEH, and the higher education campus build.
However, it's been confirmed to Express that P&R had made the decision to scale back the funds paid to cover Alderney flights before the budget debate had even started. A spokesperson for P&R said this wasn't communicated to Alderney until last week for operational reasons, including discussing the matter with Aurigny, and maintaining focus on the budget debate.
Mr Snowdon said that suggests to him that there are other matters at stake beyond saving a few pounds on air fares.
"I've got a feeling that this is actually a (move) by Policy and Resources to finally remove Alderney/Southampton completely and I'm very concerned about the consequences of knee jerk reactions, which I thought was due to the budget, but it would appear that Policy and Resources had decided to take these actions a week or so before the budget, but they felt that they weren't going to tell Alderney until the very last minute - the island that is affected, their sister island, that is in a union with them.
Pictured: The fare increases were announced last week.
"I think this is extremely disappointing actions from Policy and Resources and shows little regard for Alderney. But I also think it's extremely, extremely short term thinking from Policy and Resources to try and save small amounts of money today, but have major economic impacts for Alderney and its unity tomorrow and future years, and therefore, I really think that Policy and Resources need to get around the table with Policy and Finance in Alderney and work out a solution that doesn't have this dramatic action taken by Policy and Resources that is going to have major, major repercussions."
P&R has said that the decision to reduce the taxpayer-funded subsidy for Alderney's air links is linked to a decision made in December 2022, when the States of Guernsey directed the committee to review the contract with Aurigny.
No consultation, no economic impact assessment - Alderney furious with air fares hikes decisions
Flying to Alderney immediately costs more and will rocket next year as P&R looks to rein in subsidy
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