Chamber of commerce calls for an Alderney census

Mr Eggleston said Alderney needed to be run as a business

A census has been proposed for the island of Alderney by the head of its chamber of commerce.

Andrew Eggleston said a census would enable the island to monitor its population and infrastructure.

He said estimates of the size of Alderney's population ranged from 1,600 to 2,300, a discrepancy which affected businesses' plans for the future.

He added: "In a very small community... every single person is important and has a role to play."

Mr Eggleston said: "We [Alderney] are a businesses... so it needs to be run more as a businesses.

"It's very important to know the ages of the people here so we can plan ahead for the future."

The traditional paper-based survey of the Bailiwick was abandoned by the States of Guernsey in favour of a rolling electronic system.

Most of Alderney Chamber of Commerce members supported a new census, he said.

An approach has been made to the States of Alderney.