Runway upgrade needed 'in months'

A £50m estimate for upgrades has been sent to the UK air chiefs

Essential upgrading to Guernsey Airport's runway needs to be carried out in a matter of months, according to a consultant advising the States.

Jonathon Green, from RPS Group Consultants, said parts were "at the end of their residual life".

A report on the necessary work will be considered by the States in December before a general debate about capital priorities in March.

If given the go-ahead, it is hoped a contractor will start work next winter.

'Eked out'

Mr Green, the operational director for airports at RPS, said many parts of the runway had been kept operational because maintenance had "really eked it out to its absolute maximum".

He said: "We're at a stage were major maintenance is required.

"It can't really wait more than a few months. The more it waits, the more interim maintenance is going to have to be done."

A £50m estimate has been submitted to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, exceeding an original £10m budget.

Airport bosses said the plans had to be thoroughly discussed because rushing into an upgrade too soon could be a "false economy".