Guernsey politicians propose airport runway charge

Two Guernsey politicians have proposed a passenger charge to fund the cost of developing the island's airport runway.

Deputies Mark Dorey and Roger Domaille said an extra fee of £1.70 could raise £1.6m a year.

The States will debate the funding of the £81m runway project at their next meeting on Wednesday 30 March.

The Public Services Department has previously proposed a range of new charges, including increased mooring fees and charges on air freight.

Deputies Dorey and Domaille said the department's proposals did not fulfil the letter or spirit of the obligation placed on it by the majority of States members.

They said a combination of increased commercial income from car parking at the airport, and a small runway development charge per passenger, was the fairest and most logical way of raising the additional money.

"Each passenger would pay about £1.70 for using the runway. That's about the price of a coffee," said Deputy Domaille.

"We think it's only right that the people who use the runway pay a little bit towards it."