BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey politicians are being asked to approve the purchase of 22 new buses for the island at today's States sitting.

The next phase of the island's bus replacement programme will cost nearly £3m and will see Euro Six diesel StreetVibe buses replace the Dart Myllennium buses, introduced in 2003.

The Committee for Environment and Infrastructure says the majority of the remaining green and yellow buses brought in 15 years ago are in urgent need of replacement.

President, Barry Brehaut says the significant growth in passenger journey numbers in recent years emphasis the importance of the service.

Daily Mirror

The move could pave the way for those from the UK mainland to travel to Guernsey to receive help to die., external

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey politicians backed plans to change the island's system of government and civil service by Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, external.

Senator Gorst said it would make the civil service more efficient and accountable but one of his closest political allies criticised the plans.

It was one of the last major debates of Senator Gorst's latest term as chief minister and he had a real fight.

External Relations Minister, Sir Philip Bailache, dismissed plans to bring all States departments under the control of the chief executive in a single legal body as "gobbledegook" and "a leap in the dark".

Members argued about whether it would make civil servants and ministers more or less accountable.

Senator Gorst said the island was crying out for the change. After a long debate, members voted to support the chief minister.

Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online

Jersey Zoo has successfully bred its first Javan green magpie chick, and wants help giving it a name.

The male was born last August.

The species is critically endangered, with just 100 wild birds, and the entire captive population of 22 birds being held in Jersey, Chester and Prague zoos.

Image source, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

They have narrowed the list down to seven Indonesian names (so you can't choose magpie mcmagpie-face):

1. Salamat - a national park in Java where Javan green magpies are found

2. Musim - Indonesian for 'season'

3. Hijau - an Indonesian adjective, which describes the colour 'emerald green'

4. Gilang - Malay for 'bright, glittering, splendid'

5. Eko - 'first' in Javanese

6. Satu - Indonesian for 'one', with the hope that there will be 'two', 'three' etc in the future!

7. Indra - god of seas and skies

Vote for your favourite name on their Facebook page, external.

BBC Weather

Today looks set to be a dry and bright day with spells of sunshine and variable cloud.

The sunshine may turn rather hazy during the afternoon. Just a gentle north-westerly breeze. Maximum temperature: 5 to 8°C (41 to 46°F).

Jersey

Guernsey

Ben Chapple
BBC News Online

Yesterday's cancellations and delays were due to a "combination of factors", a Guernsey Airport spokesman has said.

Colin Le Ray, general manager of ports, said: "The disruption is of immense regret and clearly created frustration for passengers affected.

"The airport is now engaging with the customer service representatives of each airline in an effort to ensure the communications in such incidents are better honed and more consistently delivered."

The airport has issued the following information in a bid to clarify "conflicting information":

• The airport remained open throughout the day
• There was no build up of snow on the surfaces and no de-icer was required for the runway itself
• Guernsey Water does not restrict the use of de-icer for aircraft
• De-icing is a specialist service, requiring trained aircraft engineers and not provided by the airport
• In Guernsey it is typically only required a few days each year

Rob England
BBC News Online

Information directed at the mother of a baby boy left at Jersey hospital has been released by Jersey health staff, external.

They wanted to explain the physiological and emotional responses mothers can experience after birth.

The baby was left at the hospital on Sunday.

Staff say the baby boy, "continues to be fit and well".

More on this story:

• Midwife's appeal to mother after baby left at hospital
• Direct line to midwife set up for mother of abandoned baby
• Baby's mother 'has not been traced'
• Left baby: Mother 'at risk of complications' after birth
• Further appeals to mother of baby left at hospital

Ben Chapple
BBC News Online

Airlines Blue Islands and Flybe do not have formal arrangements in place for de-icing their planes in the island, a Guernsey Airport spokesman has said.

Anglo Normandy Engineering - part of the Aurigny Group that includes the airline of the same name - can provide de-icing to these operators "on an ‘ad-hoc’ basis when possible, as long as it does not compromise Aurigny operations".

He said work was continuing to "establish a de-icing co-operative... to regularise availability of this service", but said it was down to the airlines to agree a deal on the funding and provision of the service.

Ben Chapple
BBC News Online

Delays and cancellations at Guernsey Airport yesterday were caused by a "very rare" combination of snow and cold weather.

A spokesman said the weather was "not sufficiently cold to freeze the runway... but cold enough to prevent type 1 de-icer being used", which it's understood has not occurred for at least five years.

He said type 1 de-icer is used in Guernsey "historically with great success", however, it cannot be applied in freezing rain or snow, such as those conditions experienced yesterday.

The spokesman said all planes were grounded until the rain and sleet stopped and the de-icer could be applied.

Rob England
BBC News Online

A local council in the UK has banned the feeding of seagulls at two seaside resorts in Dorset.

People caught feeding the birds in parts of Lyme Regis and West Bay will face a fine of up to £100 from 23 April, West Dorset council said.

It follows measures taken by the States of Jersey last week against the feeding of nuisance wild birds under which enforcement notices are issued and if ignored then islanders could be fined.

In the island gulls, their nests, eggs and chicks are protected under the Conservation of Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2000 , externaland can only be moved by licensed pest controllers.

Image source, Getty Images

Rob England
BBC News Online

Seven "invasive species" are being highlighted across a week by various Guernsey environmental organisations in efforts to inspire islanders to help tackle them.

Invasive Species Week (23-29 March) is being run in Guernsey by the Biodiversity Partnership, who are working with the Non-native Species Secretariat.

The partnership - which includes local environment organisations and the States of Guernsey Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services - will be looking at the following species:

• Asian hornet, external
• Sour fig, external
• Pampas grassPampas, external
• German ivy, external
• Carpet sea squirt, external
• Slipper limpet, external
• Parrot’s feather, external

Environment Guernsey, who are taking part in the event, say advice will be issued across the week to islanders on how they can help solve some of the problems created by invasive species.

BBC Radio Jersey

The Jersey Aircraft Registry was launched in 2015 after moves to provide a joint one with Guernsey collapsed.

Ports of Jersey has agreed a five-year deal starting next month to take on the registry, which currently has just one registered aircraft, after taking on the Island's Ships' Registry in 2016.

"I’m confident that Ports of Jersey has the relevant and proven commercial expertise to make the registry successful," said Deputy Murray Norton, Assistant Minister with responsibility for the Jersey Aircraft Registry.

Doug Bannister, Group CEO for Ports of Jersey, said: "Given the success we have seen with the Ships’ Registry now under our portfolio and the affinity we have with both the aviation and maritime sectors, this is a natural step for us moving forwards.

"Registrations of boats and aircraft often go hand-in-hand with those owners of high-end assets, so the ease of being able to register under one business management umbrella can only be of benefit to all parties."

BBC Radio Guernsey

Local stamps to celebrate the reformation of the 201 (Guernsey's Own) Royal Air Force squadron are to be released by Guernsey Post in two weeks.

Formed in 1914, it became known as 201 Squadron when the RAF was established 100 years ago, and has been affiliated with the island since 1939.

The squadron was formally dissolved in 2011 by the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD), but will be back in action from 2021 flying new anti-submarine warfare aircraft, external.

The President of the 201 Squadron Association, Sir Geoffrey Rowland, said years of convincing the MoD and UK politicians that when a squadron needed to be formed one of them had to be the 201 "had paid off".

Image source, Guernsey Post

More on this story:

• Squadrons for RAF Lossiemouth's new aircraft announced
• 201 Squadron standard passed to Guernsey Lieutenant Governor

Twitter

Twitter

Chris Stone
BBC Radio Jersey

People will still not face a retrial in Jersey if the jury in their case cannot deliver a verdict, following a vote by politicians.

Image source, Getty Images

The home affairs minister wanted to change the law so if the members of a jury could not reach a majority decision of at least 10-2 the whole case would be heard again with a new jury.

It was part of several proposed changes in the draft Criminal Procedure Law, external.

However, several members raised concerns, including the former Bailiff, Senator Sir Philip Bailache, who has also held the office of solicitor and attorney general for the island.

He said it was not fair to give the prosecution a second chance if there had not been enough evidence to secure a guilty verdict beyond reasonable doubt the first time round.

The move to allow retrials was defeated by 26 votes to 19.

In the UK, retrials can occur for several different reasons, including the failure of a jury to agree on a verdict., external

BBC Radio Guernsey

The company that runs the Market in St Peter Port has called for more "in depth research" into the island's retail industry.

The States has published a report based on a retail survey that found islanders wanted to see improvements - such as a bigger variety of shops.

Commissioned by the States, the survey , externalran for two weeks in October, with 934 islanders taking part.

Politicians have dubbed it the "collective voice" of the Guernsey shopper, and say it will help the States understand what the retail sector needs when considering policy.

But Brett Allen, from McAulay Market Buildings Limited says more research is needed before the States commits to changing the law.

"I'm amazed that 900 replies can give rise to a retail strategy for the whole of the island when you've got 60,000 people here," he said.

More on this story:

• Call for Guernsey to set up a 'retail association'