So, Deputy Parkinson announces the results of the cost/benefits analysis on extending the runway in today’s States. Surprise, surprise, if it is viewed over 40 years (yes that is four-zero years), it would make financial sense on the assumption that it would increase visitor numbers by some further 8200 or so per annum. All this based on pre-Covid and by his comments – the short term impact of same. Really? Short-term? There is always hope and optimism and then there is ignorance.
Several questions ascertained that the basis of the report was primarily just on visitor number increases – not it’s impact on Aurigny, not it’s impact on the climate, nor the social and environmental implications. Seemingly, just a simple projection of more visitor traffic and how long it would take to get the money back. So, just to be clear it would take 80 years if we only managed to generate half those visitor numbers. Total nonsense. On the plus side this ridiculous exercise only cost circa £180,000 and not the £300,000 allocated. So that’s all good then……