Guernsey freight charges increase details released

If agreed the new charges could come into effect as early as April

Details of proposals to generate more than £1m extra in income from Guernsey's harbours and airport have been released.

They include the introduction of air freight charges, significant rises in parking charges at the airport and increases to a range of harbour fees.

The Public Services Department had been asked to generate an extra £1.8m, but has asked the States to agree to £1m.

If agreed, the new charges could may come into effect as early as April.

Public Services Minister Bernard Flouquet said the current airport parking charges and harbour mooring fees were "significantly lower than the average".

He said even after the 15% rise in mooring fees and increases of up to £2 a day for airport parking that would continue to be the case.

Deputy Flouquet said: "What we don't want to do is price anyone out of boating, but we feel there is scope for increasing in mooring charges and, likewise, airport parking without having undue impact."

The department said increasing the crane charges at St Sampson's Harbour would mostly apply to the importation of aggregates, concrete and other heavy materials or bulk cargo.

The proposed air freight charge is 3.4p per kilo.

Deputy Flouquet said: "Where freight charges are concerned, there is a potential for increases to impact on everyone in the island, because we all rely on goods bought in. We have therefore looked to apply these selectively, and focus on charges we think there is scope to increase but minimise any impact."

If the States does not agree with Public Services' request to reduce the extra income needed to £1m the department has suggested the additional £800,000 could be raised through an import tax on hydrocarbon fuels.

The report, which is due to be debated in March, also outlines a number of other options for raising further income through increasing airport passenger charges or a landing fee for cruise ship passengers.