ESSENTIAL work on the airport runway could cost up to £45m., ministers have been warned. Members of Public Services and Treasury and Resources attended a special presentation by UK consultants RPS Burks Green.
It is understood that options for repairing and improving the runway, taxiways and aprons at the airport were shown, with estimates ranging from £30m. to £45m.
A Treasury spokesman confirmed that members of his department had attended, but would not comment further.
The presentation follows increasing concern that the States faces massive unexpected expenditure on the airport, although Public Services has for years known about the need for the work.
A Treasury spokesman conceded last week that his department had been aware that the work was needed, but had not been told of the consultant’s findings, detailed options and costs.
‘It is too early to comment on how the essential work will be funded, although it would be unusual for this to be funded either from general revenue or the contingency reserve,’ he said.
‘The department will, however, ensure that all the funding options are carefully examined and would expect these and the associated implications to be included in the Public Services Department’s report which the States will consider later this year.’
Airport director Colin Le Ray had earlier said that doing nothing was not an option.
Deputy chief minister Stuart Falla had spoken earlier last week of the demands on the public purse.
‘People have talked about a variety of projects, schools, health and social services and public services,’ he said.
‘If you can’t afford to do it all from your reserves, you either do as much as you can afford, or you borrow the money and that’s something that the States will have to decide.’
The airport terminal, which opened in April 2004, was scheduled to cost £16.5m. but came in at £23m.
Leading aviation author and Guernsey-resident journalist Geoff Jones, who is also a pilot, said the jobs had been done in the wrong order.
‘A decent runway should have been a priority ahead of the terminal, together with the approach equipment which would have reduced the number of flight delays,’ he said. ‘We are our own jurisdiction and while we take advice from the Civil Aviation Authority, I believe we could have bought a bit of time and had temporary dispensation from building a new terminal.’
Guernsey Aero Club representative and pilot Colin Ferbrache agreed but said that the former airport terminal was in a poor state of repair.
The Board of Administration had been unable to work on it but he believed it would have lasted a little bit longer.
‘The important thing should always be your runway, as that’s your main safety feature,’ he said.
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