Debate delay thrown out

Plans to shorten the breakwater have proved highly controversial

A move to delay the debate on the future of Alderney's Breakwater has been thrown out by the States.

Deputy Tony Webber wanted the Board of Administration to think again and come back with further options.

But the Sursis, seconded by Deputy John Gollop, failed to get enough support and was defeated.

States members are now debating Deputy Roy Bisson's amendment to maintain the breakwater as it is.

Deputy Webber has accused the Board of Administration of not obtaining the correct figures for work on the Alderney Breakwater.

The taxpayer would be committed to spending significantly more to achieve much less Laurie Morgan, Advisory and Finance president

During his presentation of his Sursis to refer the policy letter on the Breakwater back for further reports, he said the Board did not come up with the figures it was asked for.

"The estimated cost for Option One was about £10m and I dispute that figure.

"I feel that it is so wrong, after all the work we asked the Board of Administration to go into, that they never got the proper figures for this particular option," he said.

Too expensive

President of Advisory and Finance, Laurie Morgan, said the Alderney Breakwater needed so much work done on it that it would be too expensive to maintain it as it was.

He said Deputy Bisson's amendment was not practical.

"It offers the worst value of all the possible options.

"The taxpayer would be committed to spending significantly more to achieve much less.

"We would be gambling, not only with public money, but with the future operation of Alderney harbour, and most importantly, with the future of Alderney itself."