TIME to carry out essential work on the runway is running out. Resurfacing and upgrading necessary to meet Civil Aviation Authority guidelines have been delayed pending a decision on a possible extension.

At yesterday’s planning inquiry, the Chamber of Commerce and the Guernsey International Business Association both sought to ensure that any extension could be carried out without needing a further inquiry.

‘The expectation is the works for the resurfacing of the runway have now been delayed or deferred to the point that they are required fairly imminently,’ said deputy airport director Simon MacPhail.

The upgrade had been delayed so that if an extension were approved, the work could be carried out together.

BAE Systems produced a report in favour of the extension in December last year and the subject is due to return to the States.

Chamber council member Rob Le Page said that the surface and strength had been deteriorating over the years, leading to a reduction in the runway’s classification.

‘The States recognises this and it is understood that extensive improvement work will have to be carried out, thought to be during the next two years.’

He added it would be prudent to carry out other required work to bring the runway stop-ends and end safety areas up to guideline standards at the same time.

‘If these works are not done in compliance with the Civil Aviation Authority’s CAP 168, in order for the continued use of the runway, a restriction on the size and weight of aircraft using the runway might have to be imposed.’

Chamber was concerned that the proposed green-zone designation ‘would prevent these essential works from being undertaken without a separate planning inquiry’.

He added that it had been recognised for several years that the runway might need to be extended by some 250m to enable aircraft that currently use it to do so all year without restrictions.

‘For the future, the types of regional aircraft and other types that are commonly being used and which are being developed are of a type that will need a longer runway than Guernsey Airport presently offers,’ he said.

He added that if the runway was not extended, it would restrict the carriers and their fleets to the detriment of business and tourism.

‘Chamber is of the opinion that provision should have been included in this review now so that if the States strategically makes the decision to proceed with a runway extension as well as the other improvements, the work could take place without the need for a further planning inquiry.’

He said it would be shortsighted not to make this provision.

But the Environment Department said that as there was no States strategic objective, the plan should not change.

‘If we were to amend the plan to make provision for an extension, it would be acting beyond our mandate,’ said the department’s Damon Hackley.

He added that a States project currently did not require planning permission, but the department would want an environmental impact assessment carried out if an extension were approved.

It would not want to see the provision for going to a planning inquiry to change the RAP lost.

Policies in the plan make provision for essential infrastructure to be built.