Alderney Airfare Subsidies and Connectivity Emerge as Central Concerns for Residents and Newly Elected Officials

For Alderney’s inhabitants and recently chosen political representatives, the airport and flight costs represent significant concerns. This topic gained particular prominence last week when Guernsey’s Policy and Resources (P&R) Committee decided to decrease the subsidy allocated for Alderney’s airfares by £500,000 for the upcoming year. The committee sanctioned an immediate £5 fare hike to address an overspend in the current year and adjusted the subsidy to £1.5m for 2025, a move expected to drive prices up further. This past Saturday, Alex Snowdon and Kevin Gentle were re-elected to the States of Alderney, joining Edward Hill, Iain Macfarlane, and Stuart Clarke in securing five of the 10 available positions within the States of Alderney. Edward Hill, who received the most votes, campaigned under the slogan “Make Alderney Young Again.” He stated: “Obviously we’re looking at careers. We also have to somehow work on connectivity. How that’s going to happen, that will pan out over the next two or three months.” Hill added: “We had very disappointing news from Guernsey about the increase in airfares and that’s something we need to look at.” He further declared: “And I must say at this stage I will be asking for full detailed management accounts of Aurigny to show us exactly how we can make things better and work collaboratively with Guernsey.” Snowdon commented: “I think the cuts that Policy and Resources have done behind closed doors are considerably bad for Alderney.” He continued: “There should have been consultation with the States of Alderney and the community of Alderney instead of imposing these cuts without any assessment about what these cuts will have for the impact of our businesses and our community.” Snowdon concluded: “I think the decision should be relooked at and I think there needs to be direct communication with the States of Alderney instead of this behind closed doors as we are seeing at the moment.” P&R stated its actions were in accordance with a directive from the States of Guernsey, which had been approved in December 2022. The committee indicated it was instructed to “review the contract with Aurigny… in order to reduce the subsidy paid exclusively on the Alderney routes. That is precisely what we have complied with”. This determination was reached prior to the budget discussion that took place last week. P&R remarked: “It needs to be recognised that residents of Alderney currently receive a subsidy in excess of £5,000 per person per year above the amount paid in via our partial fiscal union.” The committee further noted: “By contrast Guernsey taxpayers do not receive any subsidy for flights they take. Alderney residents will continue to receive £1.5m per year to subsidise flights, in line with current States direction.” Joe Hamling, a 49-year-old resident of Alderney, commented: “The flights and the prices are clearly a problem.The more difficult you make it for people to get here and spend money, it’s obviously going to be an issue – I would say that’s the number one issue for sure.” Mandy Collins, aged 62, stated: “I think really the connectivity of the island has got to be addressed.” She added: “I think we need to get this runway fit for purpose because we’ve got holes and when the rain comes.” Collins further explained: “And in actual fact we’ve taken it to the Ministry of Justice in England because we don’t think Guernsey has given us a fare crack at the whip.” She elaborated: “There’s an agreement, the 1948 policy document, that Guernsey have signed to say that they will keep the runway in good repair and it just isn’t.” Collins concluded: “It’s not fair because now they’ve stuck the air fares up there are just no young people coming to the island or no people getting back and forward and if we aren’t careful it will just die.” She lamented: “Which is a shame, it’s a beautiful place to live and there’s a lot going for it.” Duncan Peck, a 35-year-old Alderney resident, remarked: “Obviously there’s all the usual, the transportation links, making sure that there’s enough housing for people.” He then specified: “For me personally, a priority would be the legalisation of cannabis or the decriminalisation of it officially.” Peck observed: “At the moment it seems like double standards that some people can get it medicinally and some other people who really need it can’t get it medicinally.” The recently elected members of the States of Alderney are scheduled to be officially sworn into office in January. For updates, follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Story ideas can be submitted to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.