Latest news with #GuernseyVotes
ITV News
21 hours ago
- Sport
- ITV News
England footballer Alex Scott urges fans to spur them on to European glory
England footballer Alex Scott has issued a rallying cry to supporters, urging them to spur the team on to European success. The Guernsey-born midfielder is expected to start Saturday evening's Euro Under-21 Final against Germany in Bratislava and believes the Three Lions' fans could make the difference. He says: "A massive thank you for supporting so far, we're going to need you for one more game. "I see all the messages and kind words from people back home and it would be nice to come back with a winner's medal next week." The young Premier League player struggled with injury at points last season, starting around half of AFC Bournemouth's league games and calls it "one of the toughest periods I've had in football so far". Scott then broke his jaw and required surgery towards the end of the campaign after being caught by Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings' elbow, requiring him to wear a protective chin strap during this tournament. He explains: "That's just been my luck ... The heat doesn't help at all. At any point I can, I take it off and have a little breather from the chin strap but it's fine. "I've adapted and if we end up winning, I'm probably going to have to keep wearing it for next season. It'll be a little lucky charm, hopefully." Scott netted against Germany at the group stage, albeit during a 2-1 defeat, and hopes he can get on the scoresheet once again as the two historic rivals face off for the trophy. He says: "I need to score more goals so that was nice to get my first for the under-21s and to do it in a tournament too makes it extra special. "Hopefully, I can do it again in the final; that would be one of my best moments in football if I managed to do that. "I'll be doing everything I can for this badge that's on my chest because it's massive for the country. We'll be ready for the final and everybody's looking forward to it." Scott will be supported by family and friends who are in Slovakia to watch the big game, including his parents and grandparents. He adds: "It's been great to have them around and when we get a bit of free time, I can go out into the old town here, have a coffee and catch up with them because during the season, I don't get to see them too often. "Obviously, the travelling is tough but they've done everything they can to come out here and support me so I'm very grateful for them and hopefully we can lift the trophy together after the game." Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
ITV News
a day ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Community come together to reopen Ladies' Pool diving platform in Guernsey following safety concerns
A popular free outdoor diving platform in Guernsey will reopen to the public this weekend following months of public pressure. The board, installed in the 1920s at La Vallette Bathing Pools, was closed and due to be removed in February after it failed a health and safety assessment. Hundreds of local people came out to protest the decision and stood around Ladies' Pool, leading the Government to pause its removal. Officials said the necessary changes to increase the water depth and stop leaks would cost £1 million and even then, the area would need to be supervised at all times. Since then, politicians have worked with the community, businesses and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to find a solution. A large amount of silt, rubble and bedrock has been cleared to increase the pool's depth to 3.5 metres around the platform - above the minimum 3.2-metre clearance required by World Aquatics and British Standards. Adrian Sarchet is part of the working group to reopen the platform and adds: "We should all feel blessed to live in a place where magic like this can happen. "The community spoke, government listened, and local business facilitated a solution largely for free. "The cast of faces that has made this happen is too large to thank individually here, but each and every one of you has my thanks." The States says further safety improvements will be made over the summer, including better steps and non-slip surfaces, leading to sign-off from the HSE to reopen it straight away for public use. Infrastructure Committee President, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, explains: "This has been a fantastic example of Guernsey's incredible community spirit ... As a keen swimmer myself, it's brilliant that we can now continue to enjoy this feature of our wonderful bathing pools." Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
ITV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Accusations of Jersey Airport cover-up after minister reveals bomb threat was missed for six hours
Jersey Airport is being accused of a cover-up after a government minister revealed that staff missed a bomb threat, eventually evacuating the terminal more than seven hours later. Deputy Ian Gorst confirmed that an email was sent to the airport's customer enquiries inbox at 11:16pm on Tuesday 4 March, but it is only monitored during operational hours - 5:30am to 9pm - so officials discovered the threat the next morning during standard opening checks. Emergency procedures were then activated and the decision was made to evacuate the entire terminal building following a risk assessment, with the alarm raised at 6:28am on Wednesday 5 March. The runway was subsequently closed, with all flights suspended and people asked to avoid the area as armed police secured the scene. After extensive checks, it was deemed to be a hoax and Jersey Airport reopened just after 11am. At the time, Operations Director Ashley Maggs described it as a "significant security incident" that staff were "taking very seriously". However, Deputy Jonathan Renouf says: "It's deeply concerning that a bomb threat was actually received the night before and not seen by anybody. "That seems to be a major security breach and failure, it should be investigated as a matter of extreme urgency. "What I find particularly worrying is that it has taken so much effort and so long to find out what has gone on. I have been asking questions and the media has been asking questions; the best solution in these circumstances is openness and transparency. Instead, it looks like we've had an attempt to cover it up." In response, Mr Maggs confirmed the minister's timeline, adding: "We are unable to give any more details of the specifics of this threat due to laws which govern aviation security. "A multi-agency response was conducted in accordance with emergency response procedures. "As with any security incident, we cannot comment any further on this matter or actions taken." ITV News understands that a police investigation into what happened is ongoing. Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
ITV News
3 days ago
- ITV News
Man jailed after stealing £397,000 from wife's family business to fund 'lavish' holidays and car
A man has been jailed for eight years in Jersey after stealing £397,000 from his wife's small family business to fund a "lavish lifestyle" of Caribbean holidays, five-star hotels, cruises and an expensive car. Benjamin Mitton, 46, took the money from scrap metal company Hunt Bros Ltd between March 2015 and July 2019. The firm has been running since 1851 and is one of Jersey's oldest family businesses, said to have operated on trust for generations. Jersey's Royal Court heard how Mitton was offered the job to help him get back into work, was paid well with bonuses and lived rent-free in a home owned by his father-in-law, but still started stealing almost immediately. Commissioner Andrew Oldland explained that Mitton showed no remorse, deflecting blame onto other family members in a "particularly serious breach of trust". He added that Mitton's in-law, James Hunt, broke down as he could not understand how the company was losing money. Commissioner Oldland stated: "In response, you simply shook your head and said, 'You should go home'. "You knew full well where the money had gone; you had stolen it and carried on stealing. "James felt he had failed his father and uncle and this has left him doubting any decision he now makes. Your behaviour has had a devastating impact on all family members, old and young. "The company survived, but the impact on the family has been very serious." Mitton did not help the police during the investigation, responding with no comment during interviews. He was found guilty in April on one count of larceny as a servant - a worker stealing from their employer - and two counts of transferring criminal property. The Court heard how Mitton was out of work in 2015 and his wife's family invited him to join the company as a trainee supervisor. The prosecution explained: "As a member of the family, you were trusted with sums of money, made a signatory and had keys to both safes. Rather than improving financial systems, you took advantage. "You stole cash that had come from the bank and paid it into your own accounts. As quickly as this money came in, it came out again." It was discovered that Mitton had paid money into his own account on the same day he took cash from the family business on 30 occasions. Commissioner Oldland added: "This was a small, tight-knit family business built on trust. As a consequence, it did not have a robust system of checks and balances; it was a cash business, which means it regularly needed to withdraw cash to pay customers. "You told the bank a number of lies - that you had set up a business, you created a false trail." Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
ITV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Jersey politicians relax election rules to allow more residents to vote
People who have lived in Jersey for at least a year will now be able to vote in the island's elections. Politicians backed Deputy Hilary Jeune's proposal by 30 votes to 16, meaning the residency requirement will be reduced from two years to 12 months. Deputy Jeune believes it is "a small but meaningful step toward a more inclusive democracy" ahead of Jersey's next General Election on Sunday 7 June 2026 - which will also see the role of Senators return. While canvassing in 2022, she says newer residents were frustrated at the two-year rule as they wanted to vote but were shut out. Her amendment argues that key workers and professionals moving to Jersey should be allowed to decide how the island is governed at an earlier stage, rather than being disenfranchised. Deputy Jeune hopes the move will lead to higher public engagement in politics and greater voter turnout, as well as bringing the island in line with other jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man. A review is also underway which could see all prisoners in Jersey given the right to vote - currently, those detained for longer than four years are disqualified from having their say in an election. Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
