Politicians propose scaled-back alternative to £24 million Alderney Airport plans

Guernsey politicians have put forward a scaled-back alternative to the £24 million plans to extend Alderney's runway and replace its airport building.

The Policy & Resources Committee and the States Trading Supervisory Board - which oversees airport operations in the bailiwick - both asked States Members to back 'Option C+', over alternatives.

But Guernsey Deputy Chris Blin has now lodged an amendment calling for 'Option A' to remain the preferred option - that would see the existing infrastructure refurbished to meet aviation safety standards, but otherwise unchanged.

He says that would mean Alderney Airport remains 'proportionate', but he also wants to see extra work done to enhance the aerodrome, including a new modular terminal building as suggested in the original 'Option B':

"This amendment removes Option C+, construction of a new larger airport to accommodate [larger] aircraft, and replaces it with two alternative propositions which enable States Members to reaffirm the previous decision to comprehensively repair the existing runway and, if they wish, to authorise additional improvements to future-proof facilities."

Deputy Blin's proposition was seconded by Deputy Carl Meerveld.

The full list of options proposed for Alderney Airport are:

• Option A: Improve the condition of the runway to allow current operations to continue

• Option B: Improve the condition of the runway but also strengthen it

• Option C: Extending the runway to allow larger planes to land at the airport

• Option C+: Extending the runway, with a new purpose-built airport terminal building

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