OPINION: What are the consequences if we remain as we are?

Wednesday 19 October 2022

The Alderney Chamber of Commerce has written an open letter, via Express, responding to a previous column regarding the proposed plans to redevelop the island's airport and runway.

In the letter, published in full below, Andrew Eggleston writes on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, and the States of Alderney.

Dear Sir, 

Following the publication today within the Bailiwick Express of comment from Mr Burridge relating to his denial that our Alderney Airport is in need of critical refurbishment, we would ask that Chamber’s side of the story – and also agreed by the States of Alderney - be publicised. 

ALDERNEY AIRPORT 

The proposed regeneration of Alderney Airport is deemed to be critical by the great majority of businesses and residents in Alderney and equally important to those Guernsey businesses that have a presence here. Our current survey supports this again. 

The Alderney Chamber has written to all Guernsey Deputies outlining and stressing the positives of such a regeneration for the future well-being of life in Alderney within all its sectors. 

Two positive points come to the fore straightaway:- 

• We are pleased that the States of Alderney are committed to giving financial contribution towards the airport regeneration. 
• Reviewing the Policy Letter submitted for Option C+ (runway extension and infrastructure), Chamber is encouraged to see future savings with the PSO if moving to this conclusion. This would be of benefit to the Bailiwick taxpayer. 

We would like to look at this from a different angle – what will the consequences be if we remain as we are? 

• The Alderney economy will stagnate as there would be no opportunity to expand. In turn increasing costs to the States of Guernsey for transferred services. 
• With such limitations, unreliability and expense continuing within our air transport structure, Alderney would not be easily accessible (as is being proven at present). 
• It would be highly doubtful whether businesses would want to relocate or set up new businesses here. This also applies to professionals (including key workers such as teachers and nurses) or non-professionals wanting to relocate. 
• Our hospitality sector would start to fail which would have a knock-on effect within the retail and eatery sectors. 
• Our airport terminal itself is in terminal decline structurally and will have to be replaced. There are steps from the terminal to climb in order to reach the apron and steps to descend to arrivals. This is unacceptable for disabled passengers. The adjacent Fire Station contains an amount of asbestos which is also unacceptable. 
• We have no scanners and therefore fly “dirty” to Southampton as we would do to Jersey if we could get there! How long will this derogation be allowed to continue? 
• Alderney cannot afford to lose its direct route into the UK via Southampton. Proportionally, this can be directly compared to Guernsey losing its Gatwick sector. 
• Chamber has walked our runway both last year and a few months ago. We have seen the very weak condition it is in with the surface breaking up in too many places – a potential accident waiting to happen. 
• We already receive dispensation for the width of the runway and it would not take much for the CAA to close it especially taking into account the condition it is in. 
• Chamber is only looking to the future prosperity of Alderney – not just for the present but for the long term which will lead through to the next generation of residents and businesses alike. 
• Our economy cannot grow without the proposed airport redevelopment. It can only diminish if we stay where we are and become more of a financial burden to Guernsey. 
• A more robust island which has the infrastructure from which to attract and entice people and businesses would result in an increasing population and therefore become more self-sustaining and resilient. 
• A longer runway would mean we could afford the “luxury” of a professional medivac service. Aurigny has always served as an air taxi service, but that currently results in taking one of our two Dorniers (50% of the fleet!) out of commercial service for the period. 
• A somewhat grim scenario would be if the status quo remains and Aurigny does not tender at the next PSO. What commercial airline would be prepared to offer a reliable service on a runway of just 877 metres? 

In conclusion, the more economically successful Alderney becomes, the higher the tax revenue will be for the credit of the Bailiwick coffers and therefore Alderney will become less of a financial burden to Guernsey. 

Yours faithfully, 

Andrew Eggleston