Airfares key issues for candidates and islanders

Returning officer Theo Leisjer (left) read out the election results. Alex Snowdon, Iain Macfarlane, Stuart Clark Edward Hill and Kevin Gentle (not pictured) were elected

The airport and airfares are key issues for Alderney's residents and newly-elected politicians alike.

It is especially on people's minds as last week Guernsey's Policy and Resources (P&R) Committee cut the amount given to subsidise Alderney's airfares next year by £500,000.

The committee agreed an immediate £5 increase on fares to tackle an overspend for this year and reduced the subsidy to £1.5m in 2025, which will further increase prices.

On Saturday, Alex Snowdon and Kevin Gentle were returned to the States of Alderney along with Edward Hill, Iain Macfarlane and Stuart Clarke to take five of the 10 seats that make up the States of Alderney.

Poll topper Hill stood on a campaign of Make Alderney Young Again.

He said: "Obviously we're looking at careers. We also have to somehow work on connectivity. How that's going to happen, that will pan out over the next two or three months.

"We had very disappointing news from Guernsey about the increase in airfares and that’s something we need to look at.

"And I must say at this stage I will be asking for full detailed management accounts of Aurigny to show us exactly how we can make things better and work collaboratively with Guernsey."

Edward Hill topped the polls with 569 votes and said he was keen to work with Guernsey to improve the island's airlinks

Snowdon, said: "I think the cuts that Policy and Resources have done behind closed doors are considerably bad for Alderney.

"There should have been consultation with the States of Alderney and the community of Alderney instead of imposing these cuts without any assessment about what these cuts will have for the impact of our businesses and our community.

"I think the decision should be relooked at and I think there needs to be direct communication with the States of Alderney instead of this behind closed doors as we are seeing at the moment."

P&R said it was following a directive from the States of Guernsey - voted for in December 2022.

It said it was directed to "review the contract with Aurigny... in order to reduce the subsidy paid exclusively on the Alderney routes. That is precisely what we have complied with".

The decision was made ahead of the budget debate held last week.

Returning member Alex Snowdon said the decision to cut the subsidy Guernsey provided needed to be looked at again

P&R said: "It needs to be recognised that residents of Alderney currently receive a subsidy in excess of £5,000 per person per year above the amount paid in via our partial fiscal union.

"By contrast Guernsey taxpayers do not receive any subsidy for flights they take. Alderney residents will continue to receive £1.5m per year to subsidise flights, in line with current States direction."

Joe Hamling said making it more difficult for people to get to the island was a problem

Alderney resident Joe Hamling, 49, said: "The flights and the prices are clearly a problem.

The more difficult you make it for people to get here and spend money, it's obviously going to be an issue - I would say that's the number one issue for sure."

Both the airport and airfares are the priority for Mandy Collins

Mandy Collins, 62, said: "I think really the connectivity of the island has got to be addressed.

"I think we need to get this runway fit for purpose because we've got holes and when the rain comes.

"And in actual fact we’ve taken it to the Ministry of Justice in England because we don’t think Guernsey has given us a fare crack at the whip."

She said: "There’s an agreement, the 1948 policy document, that Guernsey have signed to say that they will keep the runway in good repair and it just isn't.

"It's not fair because now they've stuck the air fares up there are just no young people coming to the island or no people getting back and forward and if we aren’t careful it will just die.

"Which is a shame, it's a beautiful place to live and there's a lot going for it."

Transport links and housing are important to Duncan Peck

Alderney resident Duncan Peck, 35, said: "Obviously there's all the usual, the transportation links, making sure that there’s enough housing for people.

"For me personally, a priority would be the legalisation of cannabis or the decriminalisation of it officially.

"At the moment it seems like double standards that some people can get it medicinally and some other people who really need it can't get it medicinally."

The newly elected members of the States of Alderney are due to be sworn in in January.