Next round in Runway saga

Wednesday 27 November 2019

In what is believed to be one of the island's first party political broadcasts, 2020 Association member Deputy Jan Kuttelwascher has taken to Youtube to explain his latest attempt to get Guernsey Airport's runway extended.

He's lodged a requête calling for a "cost benefit analysis" on the idea of extending the runway to at least 1,700m, which will be debated during the States meeting starting today.

While previous attempts to extend the runway have been defeated, the requête claims that half of the work on this analysis has already been done. It also has the backing of many of the island's business groups, who have said further delay and policy formulation based on incomplete analysis is likely to materially raise the cost to the island and government. 

There is already opposition again, however, as Deputy Lyndon Trott and Deputy Gavin St Pier have laid a sursis - a delaying motion - to have the requête pushed back.

Speaking in a video posted to Youtube by the 2020 Association, Deputy Kuttelwascher said: "the purpose of this requête is to facilitate the delivery of a cost benefit analysis of the extension of the runway to at least 1,700m.

"It's a length that would then accommodate Airbus type aircraft, the aircraft most used by low-cost carriers. It will also facilitate category three type approaches."

Previously, an approximate cost of £700,000 was banded around in the States, but Deputy Kuttelwascher said the report would cost half that. The requête itself only allows up to £360,000 to be spent on the work, as he said half of the work had already been done. 

The 2020 Association described the requête as "promoting good governance and would facilitate better government in relation to this issue."

Pictured: The runway debate has been ongoing in many different forms for years. 

The Institute of Directors, the Chamber of Commerce and GIBA have all expressed support for the requête. In a joint statement, they said: "While the business groups support the Committee for Policy & Resource’s work to develop a “coherent and coordinated framework for all aspects of air route operation”, to produce such a framework it is essential that P&R evaluate the merit of a runway extension to help deliver the policy goals of air affordability, connectivity and reliability.  In a recent survey of the business community by the Institute of Directors and Chamber of Commerce, over 65% of respondents supported a cost-benefit analysis into a runway extension. 

"However, it is also clear to us that addressing the issue of the island’s airlinks and associated infrastructure is urgent and must be comprehensively resolved sooner rather than later.  Rather than continue with the process of laying proposal and counter-proposal before the States, both reviews should be undertaken and completed sooner rather than later.  

"We believe that further delay and policy formulation based on incomplete analysis is likely to materially raise the cost to the island and government."

Pictured top: Deputy Jan Kuttelwascher.