PART of a new concrete apron at Guernsey Airport is being dug up. Public Services chief officer Richard Kirkpatrick said an issue had arisen over levels and a small area had to be lifted and relaid.

It was pavement-quality concrete amounting to some 180 cubic metres [450 tonnes].

Mr Kirkpatrick was unable to say how much the error would cost to rectify but a construction source said the replacement concrete alone would cost at least £36,000.

The problem involves part of a new aircraft parking apron being built on the site of the old terminal, near the new east passenger walkway.

Mr Kirkpatrick would not say when the new walkway was likely to open but he said the concrete error would take about three or four days to correct.

Quality was not an issue and the problem involved the way it was laid. Replacement concrete will be of the same type as that taken out.

The broken-out material is being removed from the site to be recycled.

Deputy Eric Walters said he would be writing to Public Services minister Bill Bell for an explanation as to how the error occurred and to find out who would be paying for it.

Deputy Walters said that a number of capital spending projects were giving cause for concern. He understood that many could be exceeding their budget and he wanted to know how many were subject to financial disputes.

He said a number of States departments were presently involved in projects and as a result he might direct his questions to Chief Minister Laurie Morgan.

The work presently being carried out at Guernsey Airport is part of the second phase of the project.

The first involved the building of the new terminal that opened for business on 19 April.

The project was surrounded in controversy when local firms were left some £250,000 out of pocket following the collapse of UK subcontractor Concept Developments.

Deputy John Gollop told the May States meeting of rumours that the airport terminal project would cost £25m. rather than £18m.

But Deputy Bell said the project still had a long way to run and contractually it would be unwise to comment on any possible overspend.