Latest news with #StatesOfGuernsey
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
States release Guernsey Liberation 2025 photo book
A photo book has been released to commemorate the most recent Liberation States of Guernsey said the book captured the "spirit, emotion and community pride" from the 2025 events and moments include the military parade, cavalcade, the visit of HRH Princess Anne and celebrations in St Peter Port and Saint Pierre du Glencross, head of heritage services, said the book marked "a remarkable moment" in Guernsey's history. She said: "Liberation Day 2025 was a truly unforgettable occasion, captured in so many incredible photographs that reflect the unity and pride of our community. "This book is our way of honouring that day and ensuring we can continue to celebrate and remember our shared history."The book is available to purchase from the Visitor Information Centre in Market Square, Castle Cornet and Guernsey Museum at Candie States said all profits would go directly into the Liberation Day fund to help fund future events.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Planning application fees in Guernsey to rise by 17%
The cost of putting in a planning or building control application will rise by 17% from 30 an email sent to agents, the Director of Planning for the States of Guernsey, Jim Rowles said the Development and Planning Authority (DPA) agreed to the increase in response to "inflation and to truly reflect the cost of the service being provided".According to latest data, inflation in Guernsey currently sits at 4.2%.Mr Rowles added in the email that the approach was in line with guidance from the Policy and Resource Committee to "make sure that costs are met by those who use the service rather than being funded by other taxpayers who may never use the service". 'Not entirely fair' Planning and building control fees last rose in 2024 by 7.3%.Officials said the service was looking into how AI and other technology could improve efficiency. Chris Crew, senior planning consultant at law firm Collas Crill, said he was "surprised" by the increase and would have liked to have seen an explanation of how the figure of 17% came Crew added it was "not entirely fair that all of the costs of delivering the system be placed on applicants" but that he understood the States wanted "to make services supported by those who are using them".
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Guernsey airline Aurigny made £6.5m in losses in 2024
The States-owned Airline Aurigny made a loss of £6.5m in 2024, compared with a £1.7m profit the previous year. The company said the loss was driven by extraordinary "wet lease" costs - involving renting a plane and crew to cover flights - and global supply chain April, taxpayers were told it was unlikely they would have to foot the bill for the losses and that Aurigny would be "expected to trade their way out". The firm, recapitalised by the island's government in 2015 and 2021, said it had been "a challenging year that both Aurigny and its passengers will wish to put behind them". However, the company maintains that it avoided £10m in maintenance costs by selling a 122-seat Embraer jet. The news follows the latest update on the finances of the States of Guernsey, which sees the public purse operating at a £44m "core" accounts said Aurigny had been "impacted by supplier issues on capacity provision following the removal of the jet from service".The airline had announced the move in November 2023 to provide a "more streamlined and efficient service".The States accounts added that Aurigny's situation was then "worsened by technical issues with existing aircraft, resulting in high cost, short notice leasing to operate scheduled services". However, Aurigny was described as "remaining optimistic of delivering sustainable financial results going forward, while reducing the cost of air travel in real terms".The company said: "Despite the challenges, Aurigny achieved record passenger numbers, reaching a historic high of 570,000 - a 3% increase compared to the previous year. "Additionally, when adjusted for inflation, air fares fell in real terms, aided by the growth it delivered. "The increase in the overall number of journeys demonstrates that the airline played a more significant role as a social and economic enabler for the islands."Looking forward, the airline added that with wet lease flying down by 80%, the "extraordinary costs" it incurred in 2024 are unlikely to recur in 2025. Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq said: "When we bought Aurigny, it was a time when we realised the island would be in a poor state connectivity-wise if it didn't own the airline."And while it's not essential we should do that forever, very few airlines out there seem to be in great shape financially at the moment."Yes, having Aurigny has been a burden, it's very small and doesn't have the flexibility to deal with something going wrong without it costing."Ongoing fleet rationalisation will certainly help, and some of my new colleagues are keen to find out if there's a different way of owning and running it - getting partnerships perhaps."He added: "But we are not currently in an environment where we've got a lot of options."
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Children are suffering due to lack of education decisions
New deputies will be decided, familiar faces will return and some will see their hopes of being elected slip the voters have decided who will make up the States of Guernsey, it will soon be the turn of the newly-elected deputies to make crucial choices for the island. There will be hundreds of decisions made by the next assembly; from education, social care and transport to housing immigration and finance. The BBC has been asking islanders what they think the big issues are likely to be. Finance The financial situation of the island will always be a priority for islanders and the States recently reported a £44m annual deficit in core services. Bob Murray, an outgoing deputy and former member of the Committee for Policy and Resources (P&R), said it was critical to understand the importance of being realistic when it comes to the island's said: "The new P&R will find that our financial situation is as critical as we have claimed."They will find themselves in exactly the same position of having to convince a new assembly to grasp the need for immediate action, and to disappoint many that their hoped-for manifesto promises are simply not deliverable." One of the biggest talking points of this term has been tax and, more specifically, Goods and Service Tax (GST). In November, plans for introducing a goods and services tax were set to be worked up as an income tax rise was rejected by the States. Fast forward to election results day and GST+, the amendment proposed by Deputy Peter Roffey, is still a big talking point. Housing Housing was brought up multiple times in the last has included the suspension of GP11, the planning policy that requires a portion of housing developments to be affordable or social housing. Other issues discussed have been islanders struggling to pay rent and the removal of medium term employment are issues that workers who have relocated to Guernsey hope are addressed by the next worker Emily Piki said: "There's not enough to accommodate everyone, all the people that are coming, because there's no doubt that there's many foreigners coming in from other places but it really is hard to find voter Chloe Presland told the BBC Guernsey Election Roadshow that the next States need to work hard to keep young islanders here, as house prices were giving them no choice but to leave. Education Outside the polling station at Beau Sejour the buzz word was voters felt the future for the island's children would be the making or breaking of the next Andy Wade said education and how the States would pay for for all the decisions were the most important issues. He said: "I just want to see them makes some decisions, they've been talking about it for years and years, meanwhile kids education has been suffering, just do something." Social care Social care has also been constantly raised as a challenge for the next deputy Peter Roffey wants new deputies to think about how best to fund the rapidly increasing amount of social care how much of that cost will fall on the care recipient themselves and how much on the whole community through the Long Term Care Insurance is not just social care that will be a challenge for the next assembly, questions have also been raised by voters about how those who may find themselves without a home will be cared for. The other issues There are more than four main decisions that will need to be made by the next states and the view of voters and outgoing deputies reflects that. Other topics that have been raised include transport, utility costs and Artificial Intelligence (AI).Outgoing deputy Andy Taylor believes AI will be the future for the island. However he said it was important to understand how it would work and how it could be used also raised the issue of what capital projects the states needed to prioritise. He said: "Between grants for vitally needed social housing provision, the hospital modernisation, a new dairy, Alderney Airport and so on there is not going to be enough cash to fund everything which could be deemed to be essential".
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Two-week maintenance project underway at Guernsey park
Further maintenance work has started at Saumarez Park in Guernsey, the States of Guernsey has two-week-long project started on Thursday and will see contractors remove dried out silt from the sides of the pond next to the playground. A States spokesperson said this would ensure effective drainage of both the park and wider catchment area would park will remain open but the rear car park off Ruette des Saumarez and working areas around the pond will be closed to the public. On 26 and 27 June, work will take place to prepare the grounds for a replacement net on the pirate ship at the playground. Saumarez Park playground will be closed during these days.
