Latest news with #PeterRoffey


BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Guernsey politicians request £10m QE2 marina gate replacement
Replacing the gates of Guernsey's Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Marina could cost about £10m according to the president of the States Trading Supervisory Board (STSB). STSB has approached Policy and Resources (P&R) to discuss how the project could be funded. Deputy Peter Roffey said the best way to fund the project would be through a loan from the States as this was a "a key bit of infrastructure" that was coming to the end of its life.P&R said it had only recently been made aware of the STSB proposal and had expressed its concerns to the board. Roffey admitted it was an expensive project for the States. Non-States member of the STSB and Chair of the Guernsey Ports board Simon Thornton led the delegation to P&R to request the funds. Some of the marina users said they hoped the new gate would be 2m, rather than the current 1m gate. Head of infrastructure delivery at Guernsey Ports, Jenny Giles said: "The QEII gates and surrounding infrastructure are coming to the end of their useful life."Due to their age, the constant use and the exposure to weather and tide conditions all year round, the gates and the surrounding infrastructure are showing considerable signs of wear with repairs being required more frequently."The gates are constantly monitored by Guernsey Ports' team and more recent surveys have established that it would be more cost effective to replace the gates rather than continue with the substantial repairs which are likely to increase year on year." The QE2 marina was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1989, although it first opened in 1987 and the gates have operated 26,280 would be the first time the main gates have been replaced since the facility was year, two new pontoons were installed at the QE2 Marina at a cost of £1.4m. Politicians also clashed with boat owners in 2024 after they increased the cost of moorings in St Peter Port alongside promises these increases would lead to further investments in Guernsey's of Guernsey's general election at one of BBC Guernsey's roadshows, chair of the Guernsey Development Agency Peter Watson criticised the lack of spending on infrastructure. Mr Watson said: "I really want to see some strategic working, I think they need to be brave, Guernsey has some big issues which need resolving. "We need infrastructure, we haven't spent on it in years."We really just have to build some infrastructure and move Guernsey forward."BBC Guernsey's next election roadshow is on 28 May at Vistas café.


BBC News
23-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cost of electricity in Guernsey rises as fixed-price deals end
The price of electricity in Guernsey is to rise from 1 States' Trading Supervisory Board (STSB) granted Guernsey Electricity (GEL) an increase of 8% to be split between the charge per unit of electricity and the fixed standing STSB has also approved a 2.5% increase in quarterly standing charges from 12.5% to 15%.The decision comes after Guernsey Electricity (GEL) applied to the government for an increase of 9.5% because its long-term fixed price agreements for the import of electricity are due to end. The STSB said the quarterly standing charges for households would rise from £68.25 to £86.75, the equivalent of about 95p per said this rebalancing would protect customers who were unable to install their own renewable electricity generation. It said customers generating renewable electricity paid less in unit charges as the amount they bought decreased, but they remained connected to the mains network to supplement their generation president deputy Peter Roffey said while the bills had been kept "artificially low" GEL had been unable to adequately invest in the network. He said GEL had spent more than £30m in maintaining and upgrading the local network but much of this had been financed through borrowing. The STSB said it was "not commercially sustainable" for GEL to continue borrowing to maintain its current electricity firm said it planned to invest about £12m in 2025 and £10m in 2026 as well as a contribution of around £10m towards the replacement of the Normandie 2 cable between France and Jersey between now and board said GEL would be expected to make efficiency savings of about £1.8m by the end of 2027 to reduce the need for future tariff benefit would be passed on to customers, the board added.


BBC News
30-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New framework published for allocated housing in Guernsey
A framework to ensure the sustainable development of houses in the north of Guernsey has been published by the States. The Committee for Employment & Social Security said the Strategic Delivery Framework (SDF) would "establish a vision" for the allocated housing sites in St Sampson's and Vale. It said the SDF was a coordinated approach which would ensure future development met existing housing needs, boosted the economy and improved transport options. Deputy Peter Roffey said the framework would lay "the groundwork for long-term growth". 'Vibrant communities' He said: "The work marks a significant step forward in our efforts to deliver much-needed housing in a way that also supports sustainable, vibrant communities in the north of the island. "By taking a collaborative approach with Savills and working closely with both internal and external stakeholders, we're laying the groundwork for long-term growth that benefits islanders now and into the future. "The north of the island holds enormous potential, and the SDF provides a clear and practical path to unlocking it in a sustainable way."Key sites in the SDF include Parc Le Lacheur, Saltpans, Franc Fief, Pointues Rocques and Fontaine Vinery.


BBC News
10-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Aircraft replacement plans for Alderney
Aurigny plans to improve Alderney's air links by replacing some of its aircraft, the company the plans, the Dornier planes could be replaced with two Twin Otter aircraft and a third plane could be used as a said proposals were still in the early stages of development and would need approval from the States Trading Supervisory Board and Policy and of the committee, Peter Roffey said the plan, which would mean Aurigny would not own the planes, could result in "huge cost savings" for the airline. 'Big advantage' Under the plans the Twin Otter planes would be flown by Aurigny's said: "It is not for Aurigny to buy any Twin Otter aircraft. "The big advantage of this is that there would be huge cost savings on maintenance at Aurigny as they would only have to maintain one type of aircraft."The plans meant the provider of the Twin Otter aircraft would be in charge of looking after them. Currently, Aurigny has two Dornier planes serving the island and during medical emergencies one of the planes is taken out of are two companies currently interested in leasing the planes.


BBC News
10-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Guernsey taxpayers 'not expected' to fund Aurigny's 2024 losses
Guernsey taxpayers have been reassured it is unlikely they will have to foot the bill for the losses Aurigny incurred in level of loss last year has not been released publicly but some politicians suggested in the States Assembly that it could run to between £6m and £ company, States-owned since 2003, was recapitalised by the island's government in 2015 and 2021. It made profit in 2022 and Peter Roffey, President of the States Trading Supervisory Board, said: "We do not expect to be approaching the assembly for any further capital injection as a result of any losses that were made last year." He said: "We expect Aurigny to be able to trade their way out of that and so the last injection of money from the tax payer remains at 2021."Facing questions in the States meeting, Roffey said the issues faced by Aurigny were not due to the company selling its Embraer jet in 2024 and things may have been worse if that had not been the total of the losses, he said: "I have not seen any actuarial figure yet... but I know it will run into several million pounds."