Newsagents fear end of national press
Saturday 19th February 2011, 2:30PM GMT.
Newsagents have reacted strongly to news that Public Services could put plans in place that would delay national newspapers until the following day. Derek Le Cras, left, Barry Marley and Michaela Rabey said their businesses would go under. (Picture by Ann Brehaut, 1095373)
NEWSAGENTS fear for the future of their industry in the wake of air freight hikes announced by Public Services.
The department has proposed various measures to raise £1m. of the £1.8m. it has been directed by the States to come up with from the airport and harbour – this includes collecting £170,000 a year with a new freight import charge.
If the proposals are approved, it could lead to newspapers arriving by boat in Guernsey a day after they are published and post to the UK arriving a day later.
National Federation of Retail Newsagents Guernsey branch president Dave Sheppard said it would be the end of the industry in the island.
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A ridiculous situation, this place is literally an open prison and I for one cannot wait to get out before it becomes impossible due to expense!
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Nobody’s going to read old news, I still think the States should be reducing the amount of civil servants, and reducing pay for those who earn far too much. Why not reduce the amount of deputies too?
All of these “savings” are just going to affect Joe Bloggs, and not any of those with very high earnings.
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This is absolutely outrageous, what good will it be for us to read UK national newspapers a day after they were published!
It sounds as if you are suggesting that we will only receive Mondays newspaper on Tuesday. The postal issue is even more ludicrous!
I strongly suggest they do not adopt this outrageous idea.
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Once again we see the States trying to obtain money by raising charges to us the taxpayer rather than cutting their own costs. Where are the newspaper articles showing figures for efficiency savings by the States, or how middle management has been trimmed to reduce the payroll?
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Never by them. It`s the UK news – we are not part of UK. For news I use the web. Waste of paper and energy in transport also.
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With modern technology, surely there’s an opportunitity here for a local company to print the Nationals on island, with the added bonus that they’d never be late due to fog!
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DOES ANY ONE KNOW, IF THIS IS ANYTHING TO WITH TRIBAL, SHOWING US HOW TO SAVE MONEY, THEN PUT UP EVERY THING THEN TAKE THERE CUT, JUST LIKE THEY DID WITH THE BUS INCREASE,NOT ROCKET SCIENCE?
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Why can’t electric copies be sent through to the Guernsey Press or another company on the island and then Channel Island versions of the Nationals could be printed.
They do a similar thing in the Caribbean.
Probably cheaper to do as well.
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And how does the paper they would need to print these newspapers get here? by freight so the paper would cost a fortune to get here.
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Never heard anything so ridiculous in my life!! What is the use of a daily paper the day after? I love reading my daily paper. PLEASE LEAVE THINGS AS THEY ARE. Why not down load from the internet and print them over here? That would create jobs and avoid delays with bad weather. They also do this in the Canary Islands.
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@John
Except that the raw paper could be brought in on a more commercial basis.
On a general point, I know Guernsey residents have been used to having their UK newspapers on much the same basis as those who live in the UK but, in reality, Guernsey is not part of the UK and people who live overseas usually receive the UK papers later the same day or during the next day and pay a supplement. Perhaps Guernsey residents need to accept that they are overseas and there are costs involved in bringing the UK papers here first thing in the morning.
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How much does the States hope to raise in the increased freight charges? £100,000 approx??
All this hassle for such a small amount, why? And what will this extra revenue get spent on?
If Guernsey loses the daily papers from the UK will this not mean a lot of small businesses will end up bust, as newsagents and shops rely on the daily papers for their living??
So how much a year in benefits will the States be paying out to those made unemployed by the loss of the daily papers?
Seems to me, it’s a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
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Waiting to hear from the guy who runs the Paper Box in Town
First cigarette problems and now this!
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If they really need to do this why not introduce a small tax on papers to cover the freight. Or better still paid parking!
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