ANGRY Alderney States members have heaped criticism on the island’s tidal power spending plans.

John Beaman and Peter Allen (pictured) are outraged that the Alderney Commission for Renewable Energy – the statutory body appointed by the States to oversee the island’s tidal power deal – has budgeted to spend more than £350,000 at a time when the island is desperately short of cash to complete vital capital projects.

Mr Beaman said: ‘It would have been nice if Acre had budgeted something like £100,000 towards our capital projects, but it didn’t because it has full control over the money. I don’t disagree with Acre having some of the money provided it says exactly what it is going to be used for. However, the rest should be knocked off people’s electricity bills.’

Since November, Acre has received £391,804 from developer Alderney Renewable Energy in the form of licence fee payments for 2008 and 2009, plus interest.

Outgoing Acre chairman Gordon Fitton revealed the body’s budget to Policy and Finance Committee members in January. He said Acre planned to spend £144,200 on salaries, £100,000 on surveying and mapping and £34,000 on renting office space. A new website has also been planned by Acre, at a cost of £10,000, while the body has budgeted to spend £12,000 on IT equipment.