BBC Radio Jersey

Divers in Jersey have been warned to take extra care as a medical facility in the island has been closed.

Image source, Getty Images

The hyperbaric chamber at the harbour was used to treat divers suffering from the bends, external, a form of embolism which happens when nitrogen bubbles form in the blood vessels.

It can occur when a scuba diver spends too long underwater, surfaces too quickly or holds their breath as they come up.

Ports of Jersey say they have been told by operators the site is now permanently out of action. The nearest facility is in Guernsey, and divers have been told to factor this into their plans when they carry out their risk assessments.

BBC Radio Guernsey

A "shock general election" instead of a referendum this autumn could blow away the political cobwebs in Guernsey, a deputy has said.

As the political term reaches its halfway point and the island prepares for a referendum on island-wide voting in October, Deputy Gollop says an early election could do some good.

He says if Guernsey follows the UK's example in 2017 - when Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap election - newly elected politicians in the island would start the new season "with a sense of direction".

BBC Radio Jersey

Racehorse owners in Jersey have been told their animals must be tested for the disease strangles, after a horse showed signs it had been exposed.

Image source, Getty Images

Strangles, common the UK and elsewhere in Europe, is a respiratory infection which affects horses, donkeys and ponies.

Last weekend's race meeting had to be cancelled after a horse at an island stable was found to be infected, and vets urged owners to isolate their horses to stop it spreading.

Since then, the Channel Islands Racing and Hunt Club has said evidence of the disease's bacteria has been found at another yard, although it added the horse showed no signs of the disease and this was not confirmation the outbreak had spread.

The club has asked all yards to give all horses in training a blood test, and to continue with "enhanced biosecurity measures" including increased use of disinfectant on clothes and equipment, and limiting cross contamination between yards.

Future racing is thought to be able to go ahead "as scheduled".

Chris Rayner
BBC Radio Jersey Political Reporter

At a special meeting of the States Assembly, Jersey's new politicians will be sworn in later.

The successful candidates in the May general election with take up their seats as constables, deputies and senators.

On Monday they will choose the island's new chief minister, before deciding who will run the various States departments and scrutiny panels.

Simon Fairclough
Guernsey Political Reporter

Today marks the halfway point in Guernsey's current political term.

The island's 38 States members were sworn in at the start of May 2016 and will leave office at the end of June 2020.

The three main election issues raised on islanders' doorsteps before the 2016 election were the future of secondary education, air and sea links and island-wide voting.

While there's been a lot of talk about these issues many islanders may well feel little progress has been made.

That was certainly the widely held view at the latest meeting of the Islanders Assocation - one of the political groups formed as some deputies suggest the new committee system of government is failing the island.

Many will reserve judgement until the election itself in just over two years' time, but even that will depend on the outcome of the island's first ever referendum in October and whether that truly delivers what the majority of islanders want.

John Fernandez
BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey's home affairs and education committees have been criticised for not making enough savings.

Image source, Getty Images

In a letter, external, politicians on the States' scrutiny panel say progress is "disappointing and unacceptable".

Commenting on the latest Policy and Resources Plan update, external, they said a number of "transformational savings" had been identified as being possible in these areas.

But the letter, penned by members of the Scrutiny Management Committee, notes neither has set out a programme for these savings. The committee say "momentum" will now be needed across government if the £26m of savings highlighted in the Medium Term Financial Plan , externalare to happen.

Deputy Matt Fallaize, of the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture said attempts are being made to save money from his portfolio, and the revenue would come from reforms in secondary education, post-16 education and reductions to grant aided colleges.

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

The mail plane has been delayed once again in Guernsey, as fog hits the island.

As you can see below, there isn't a great deal of visibility at the airport right now.

Flights are managing to take off at the moment, but it remains to be seen whether anything will be able to land.

Image source, NEST.GG

Chris Stone
BBC Radio Jersey

Two property owners in Jersey should receive a refund from the States after a complaints panel found it acted "unfairly" and "oppressively" against them.

Last year two property owners wanted to sell their homes in Greve D'Azette, St Clement, but their homes encroached on States land known as the foreshore, external.

One of the owners, Alan Luce, said the Infrastructure Minister, Deputy Eddie Noel, and States Property Holdings taxed them more than £30,000 for the encroachment, which was "draconian and unfair". But Deputy Noel said the public owned the land and had the right to be compensated, so the matter went to a complaints panel.

The panel found the minister and department acted "against the principles of natural justice", and believes they exploited the owners "vulnerable position" as they tried to sell their homes.

It said the States did not act fairly, promptly or transparently and the board wants the next infrastructure minister, who will be chosen next week, to come up with a new, clear policy on the matter.

The panel has also asked the States to refund the two owners the difference between what they were charged and what the new policy would make them pay for the encroachment. It wants a response by August.

More on this story:

• Panel to investigate 'foreshore' charge to homeowner

BBC Weather

Cloud will be dispersing through the morning to leave increasing amounts of sunshine.

There will be a light to moderate south-westerly breeze.

Maximum temperature: 13 to 17C (57 to 63F).

Jersey:

Guernsey:

Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online

Students at La Mare De Carteret, in Guernsey, should still have appropriate facilities despite the school possibly being rebuilt in future years, according to the president of Education Sport and Culture.

Both the primary and high schools are currently undergoing a £700,000 refurbishment, including mobile classrooms, improving insulation, putting new floors in, redecorating, and installing new heating and ventilation.

The President of Education, Sport and Culture, Deputy Matt Fallaize, said the current buildings are "inadequate".

Most of the work will take place over the summer holidays.

The States of Guernsey has decided to pursue a two-school model for non-selective secondary education, meaning two of the current four schools will no longer be used for their current purpose.

BBC Channel Islands News

The Church of England has come under fire over fees charged for administering the estates of people who have died in Guernsey.

The Ecclesiastic Court currently takes a 0.35% cut which, it says, pays for the service, with any additional cash paid into the Deanery Fund - which contributes towards charitable projects in the island.

Island resident Sarah Griffiths says she was "angry" when she discovered the charge, which she paid from her mother's estate, and feels the money should go to the States, instead of the church.

The Dean of Guernsey, the Very Reverend Tim Barker, insists there is appropriate oversight of the multimillion-pound fund.

A States spokesman said the Policy and Resources Committee would be publishing a policy letter "in the next couple of weeks" outlining its proposals for the future of probate, which will be debated by the States.

Rob England
BBC News Online

Two young men have been taken to hospital "as a precaution" after a car ended up on its roof in St Martin, Jersey, police said.

The car, a blue Renault Clio is thought to have "clipped a tree" on La Route de St Catherine at about 14:45 this afternoon.

Officers said the driver, an 18-year-old male and the passenger, a 16-year-old male, were taken to accident and emergency, the extent of their injuries is not known.

Chantal Hartle
BBC Radio Jersey reporter

The honorary director of Jersey Zoo has been given a special honour in Corfu.

Lee Durrell, the wife of the founder of the wildlife trust Gerald Durrell, has been made an honorary citizen of the Greek island.

Gerald lived in Corfu in the 1930's and his book My Family and Other Animals is based on his childhood there.

Lee said she was "proud" to have been given the honour in a place that was so special to Gerald.

Rob England
BBC News Online

Pods of dolphins are being "harassed" by a "small number" of boat owners, in Guernsey's harbour authorities have said while issuing a guide to encountering the animals.

Seafarers have been advised to stay 100m (328ft) away from the animals, unless they approach.

The General Manager of Ports, Colin Le Ray, said Guernsey Harbours took a "very dim view" of operators who "harass, harm, and interfere with the dolphins" in the island's waters.

"It’s very disappointing and concerning to hear a small minority of vessel operators, have in the past, been harassing these intelligent creatures in local waters," he said.

Experts at La Societe Guernesiaise say it is important not to "overcrowd" dolphin pods, and people "should never try to swim with, touch or feed" them.

Laura Bampton, Marine Biology Section Secretary, said: "Dolphins can be aggressive, and touching dolphins can be dangerous as they carry diseases that are transmittable to humans."

BBC Radio Jersey

Plans to redevelop St Saviour hospital in Jersey are being considered by the company responsible for the government's assets.

The hospital was built in the 1800s and was known as the Jersey Lunatic Asylum - the name was only changed in the 1950s.

In 2014 new facilities were opened there for people with mental health issues, but the Jersey Development Company says the site is still under-used.

When the States was looking at sites for Jersey's new hospital it was dismissed in favour of redeveloping the existing site, but politicians have now renewed calls for other sites to be re-examined.

In its annual report, the States Development Company says it has been talking about how St Saviour hospital could be redeveloped. It's also looking at what could be done with the States buildings at South Hill.

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BBC Channel Islands News

A "radical rethink" on the duty the States of Guernsey puts on fuel is needed, as prices hit a record high, according to the president of the Guernsey Motor Traders Association.

Robert Cornelius says a different approach is needed as pump prices hit 140p per litre for the first time.

Globally over the past 12 months oil prices have risen from $44.8 per barrel to $79.8.

Mr Cornelius is calling for the government to look at the "bigger picture" of what happens if fuel prices continue to rise, penalising motorists, and the States should look to raise revenue elsewhere.

Island retailers say recently a global dip in crude oil prices should be reflected at pumps in the near future.

A spokesman for the States of Guernsey's Policy and Resources Committee said it was working with the Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure to "consider and review" the best way of raising money from motoring in the future, with a focus on "sustainability" rather than increasing revenue.

Rob England
BBC News Online

A major road in Jersey will be closed this evening to allow a motoring festival to go ahead.

Victoria Avenue in St Helier and its approach roads will be closed from 19:00 until 23:30.

Karts will be racing along the avenue as part of the Jersey International Motoring Festival.

Rob England
BBC News Online

Both candidates bidding to be Jersey's next chief minister support a review of four potential sites for the island's new hospital.

Initial plans for the £466m project were thrown out by the planning minister last year, and are due to be reviewed again soon.

The last time the issue of the hospital site was debated a decision was made not to debate where it would be built again, and to move forward with the current hospital site in St Helier.

However, Senator-elect John Le Fondre and Senator Ian Gorst now say they would back a short independent review of whether to choose alternative sites such as the St Helier waterfront, Warwick Farm and St Saviour Hospital.

More on this story:

• New States could consider alternative hospital sites

• Jobs working on new hospital advertised by States

• New hospital plans: Take a look...

BBC Radio Jersey

Visit Jersey is hoping an advertising video featuring a reworked version of the Bergerac theme tune - will encourage people from the UK and Germany to book last minute trips to the island this summer.

You can watch the video here:

The crime drama, starring John Nettles, used to attract 13 million viewers per week in the 1980s.

Despite the track's modern sound, Adam Caerlewy Smith from Visit Jersey says it is not aimed at any one group in particular.

"Our biggest market is the UK," he said, adding: "Traditionally our visitors have been of an slightly older demographic, but that's starting to widen out now with more younger people starting to enjoy Jersey for shorter breaks."

Dario Darnell, who performs under the name Youngr, produced the video.