Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for the Channel Islands

Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for the Channel Islands

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey's Director of International and Constitutional Affairs said there will not be "any difference" traveling to and from the UK in the event of a no deal Brexit.

Jo Reeve said: "We're still part of the common travel area and that was very much a key objective of ours. We've achieved support for that from the UK and the EU has recognised the importance of it."

In a no-deal scenario the UK would immediately leave the European Union with no agreement about the "divorce" process.

This means the UK would leave the single market and customs union, arrangements designed to help trade between EU members by eliminating checks and tariffs.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey States saved nearly £250,000 in wages when teachers went on strike for eight days in May.

The strikes were conducted by members of the teachers union the NEU over a pay offer by the States Employment Board.

A Freedom of Information request has revealed savings of almost £235,000 in wages and £12,500 in social security payments.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey's Vice Chairman of Douzaine Council Rob Gill says serious concerns they raised about planning and development have been ignored by the States.

The Douzaine Council, which represents the island's parishes, identified five key issues they have with the Island Development Plan earlier in 2019.

Whilst Vice Chairman Gill acknowledged the States proposed an infrastructure plan in 2011, he claimed that is not what the council are looking for from planning.

"We are employing civil servants to answer these questions, not just to build a load of houses and decide where the solution comes from when the traffic infrastructure is gridlocked," he said.

Deputy Dawn Tindall, president of the Development and Planning Authority, said they will be rolling out a communication plan which she hopes will address concerns with infrastructure proposals.

Pamela Nisbet, who was 68, was found in a property at St Peter on Tuesday evening.

Adam Durbin
BBC News Online

Image source, Getty Images

Pharmacists in Jersey have not been advised by the States to stockpile medicines in case of a no-deal Brexit.

Instead wholesalers have been told to stockpile "at least six weeks" of medication to help minimise any potential disruption.

Government officials are planning temporary measures for emergency shortages, as the supply of food and medicine coming into the island could be disrupted.

In the event of key shortages, ministers could potentially close pharmacies and ration medication to ensure those in most need of prescriptions have access to them.

Simon Wall, a member of Jersey's Royal Pharmaceutical Society, says patients should "carry on ordering and taking their medicine as normal".

"If [patients] stockpile then it could cause someone else to miss out on their medication," he added.

Adam Durbin
BBC News Online

Guernsey's new director of education has quit weeks before she was due to take up the role full-time.

Laurie Baker said her decision was because of a change in family circumstances that means she can no longer do the job.

Mrs Baker denied that recent public controversy around the recruitment and appointment of the new Head of Curriculum and Standards Clare Sealy played a role.

The Policy and Resources Committee announced on Tuesday the job will not be filled immediately, and the senior leadership team will cover key responsibilities of the job for a few months.

Deputy Carl Meerveld, a former vice-president of the education committee, has expressed concerns the announcement has been made by the Policy and Resources Committee, rather than Education itself.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's Education Minister has said there will be more money for nursery education in 2021.

Currently, parents get 20 hours of free childcare for their three and four-year-olds.

That's compared to 15 hours in Guernsey - but officials there are considering broadening their scheme, to also include two and three-year-olds.

In Jersey, Senator Tracey Vallois said the extra funds won't be available for a couple of years.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Guernsey

Hotels across Guernsey are full, but they cannot expand because of population laws restricting staff, says the president of the island's Chamber of Commerce.

Guernsey has seen an overall increase of more than 13,000 visitors to the island compared to the same time last year.

However, the majority of those were not staying on the island.

Barrie Baxter said that Guernsey's hospitality industry needs help when it comes to recruiting staff.

BBC Radio Jersey

A teenager was arrested on alleged drug offences and two were treated for drug overdoses after an illegal rave in Jersey at the weekend.

Hundreds of people are thought to have packed Etaquerel Fort on the north coast.

Jersey Heritage, which owns the fort, said the clear up took several hours.