The States of Alderney (SoA) say they have submitted two new, fully costed and “technically sound” proposals to Guernsey’s Trading Supervisory Board (STSB) for the rehabilitation of Alderney’s airport runway, taxiway, and apron infrastructure.
The proposals were developed by Iain Macfarlane, the chair of the General Services Committee, and the States of Alderney’s head of operations.
In their announcement, the SoA say the initiative aligns with the States of Guernsey’s resolution from 11 April 2025, which called for a practical, cost-effective solution that meets Code B standards.
The rehabilitation of Alderney’s runway has been a long-standing issue, with discussions and debates spanning several years and multiple proposals, and warnings of potential deaths handed over with four-figure petitions.
The focus of these new proposals is on the urgent airside works to ensure the airport remains safe and operational. Landside upgrades, such as the terminal and control tower, are considered important but can be addressed after this critical phase.
Mr Macfarlane stated that the goal was to demonstrate that viable, cost-effective solutions exist and expressed hope for an expedited path forward: “This has been a focused and determined piece of work. Our goal from the outset was to demonstrate that viable, cost-effective, and deliverable solutions do exist — and we’ve done exactly that. We’ve drawn a line under the years of uncertainty and turned the conversation back to action.”
He continued: “We now hope for an expedited route forward, building on the diligent work of our members and officers. We’re keen to hear the views of STSB and Ports, and we hope they are ready to progress delivery.”
Bill Abel, the chair of Alderney’s Policy & Finance Committee, also welcomed the “pragmatic” proposals that could be delivered quickly: “I am pleased to see two pragmatic runway rehabilitation proposals that could be delivered in a short space of time that clearly warrant review by STSB.”