GUERNSEY’S Chief Minister Laurie Morgan said that a move to double summer time would require both Bailiwicks working together for a decision. Deputy Morgan has responded to comments made by Jersey’s chief minister Frank Walker about whether Guernsey would following suit and adopt double summer time if his investigation has a positive result.

‘I remain open-minded about Guernsey moving to double summer time, although I would like to think that if a change is eventually made, a consistent approach could be achieved throughout the Channel Islands. It would seem to me a very strange and confusing position for Jersey to be working on a different system from the islands in the Bailiwick of Guernsey,’ he said.

Deputy Morgan said he would be happy to discuss the outcome of the review with Senator Walker if there were demonstrative advantages to making the move.

‘Then I would look to consult widely throughout the Bailiwick of Guernsey on any proposed change.

‘Inevitably, there are both advantages and disadvantages associated with such a move and when it has been looked at in the past, the arguments have appeared to be evenly balanced,’ he said.

Chris Brock, director of stockbrokers Brewin Dolphin Securities, said a one-hour time difference between London and Guernsey wouldn’t cause major problems for his industry.

‘We would change our working time accordingly – it wouldn’t really affect us too much.

‘We deal internationally, anyway, and we don’t have someone here all the time the US markets are open. We would just join the Stock Exchange in London when they open and rather than coming in just before 8am, we would come in before 9,’ he said.

If double summer time went ahead, it would mean the clocks going forward two hours in March instead of one and being put back by the same amount of time in October to Greenwich mean time.

Guernsey Cricket Association president Mark Latter said longer summer evenings wouldn’t necessarily mean extra playing time.

‘The nature of evening cricket is such that we play for about three hours in a night and people can choose the number of overs they play, based on the conditions.

‘It’s only a recreational sport and people have other commitments. I don’t think people would want to play much later than 9pm,’ he said.

Currently, the season starts in the last week of April, through until the end of July, with other fixtures being played throughout August.

Mr Latter said this arrangement had always been sufficient.

‘Over the last year or so, we have seen a few teams turning up with one or two less players because people work longer hours and have family, which is going to be the more important factor over extra hours of daylight,’ he said.