Hello | Tue 27th July 2010
Alderney Lover - At last night's meeting Derek Coates also questioned the quality of States marketing of Alderney and the rather small budget allocated to it.

A fair number of points were covered at the meeting though the subsequent questions and answer session rambled on in circles a bit.

Whilst I still don't trust him 100% neither do I trust the States of Guernsey but on balance I gave a fair presentation and I'm inclined to agree that his proposal has legs.

Alderney lover | Tue 27th July 2010
It is perfectly possible to include clauses in any sale agreement that protect the Alderney Southampton line, and similar protectionist clauses are included in public private deals. Coates has said he will do it, so it shouldn't be a problem for him putting it in the agreement. Some of the PPP deals on the privatisation of the railways have these clauses in them - guaranteeing certain routes.

The difficulty is where the private sector provider goes bust. The States of Guernsey could in that circumstance step in, but with Democracy in SoG at such a low ebb so that the Alderney States members were not even told about this deal, do we trust them?

Surely the answer is that Alderney needs to help itself and look to other ways of encouraging tourism - to improve the economy and bring money to locals and the island. Regular visitor is right. A booming tourist trade would encourage competition to Blue Islands even if it was just in the summer.

Joined up thinking from the States, the Chamber of Commerce and those in the tourism industry (Belle Vue and holiday homes owners who rent their homes out, included) with some professional advice might be a good start. What steps has the States taken to sort out the empty shops in Victoria Street? What has been done to encourage yachties from Europe to spend money while they are here? What events have been publicised outside Alderney Week? if you open a magazine in the Uk at the moment you will see adverts for Guernsey and Jersey but never Alderney. Why?

Maybe you should run for the States Pinky

Marinadreamer | Fri 23rd July 2010
Hmm, very emotive issue this. We would all love Aurigny to survive along with the Trislander, such great staff & service and may I add Maurice in Soton to the list, he has been there since I left school in 75! The marketplace is fickle and holiday makers in a recession will vote with their feet (wallet) ie. head for the cheaper destinations where they can be assured of sunshine, all inclusive meals, drinkies et al. The tourist trade on Ay has been on the decline for donkeys ears, it is not a recent problem and blaming Mr C isn't going to help or solve the problem. His tourists don't live in the SeaView (sic) and do spend money around the island, ask the taxi drivers, gift shops & tourist boats, Eddy of Bumps, Rita and the Moorings etc etc. If he hadn't chucked millions at the SV then there would still be a wreck, nay ruin at the sea gateway to Ay, not a good advert for tourism? However, neither should people cast stones at the Belle View, who have given years of service to Ay, particularly during AY week and stayed open during the winter months when others have shut. I guess the problem is, Aurigny is, if we are to beieve the states, currently a loss making company which they have to bankroll - their choice you might say, agreed, but with a huge black hole in the economy which is growing, then what will pay for it and prop up the company? Yep, the double edged sword, GST! So I don't really think SOG have any choice in the matter, business is about making money and hard choices have to be made. I would vote for Aurigny remaining independant too - but I cannot see that happening.

Anne | Fri 23rd July 2010
Pinky, As you appear to know Mr Coates and his business so well!! Can you assure us that he has a sucessful business here? He may own a hotel and an airline but that does not mean he is making a profit here. If he was, would he be giving free flights to stay in his hotel? Please stop being so personal about the Belle Vue. You obviously have a grudge there, go and sort it out with them face to face, not on this forum!

Regular visitor | Fri 23rd July 2010
Sorry Pinky, but one big mistake you propose is that locals could have subsidised flights, proberly at the expense of higher Tourist Flight costs, great in theory but it is Tourists the Islands needs badly !

Why on earth would Tourists fly to Alderney for £150+ from Southampton when they can fly to say the Canairies or South of France for £29.99 all in ????? It is the Flight costs that are the Islands stumbling block to attracting Tourists.

Victoria Street itself, Hotels, Guest Houses, Pubs, Restaurants, Cafes, Car Hire, Butchers, Bakers and all badly need visitors and their Cash to help put the Island and its local Businesses back on their feet.

So many Holiday homes on Alderney do not help.

Without attracting Tourists there will be no Island Economy at all.

Has any thought been given to the Micheal O,Leary (RyanAir) Policy of cheap flights take more people to destinations, who in turn pour money into the destination Economies. Love him or hate him, his Policies pay off handsomely for the Cities/Towns he is contracted to !

Mr Coates only gets people in his Alderney Hotel because of Free flights promotion. If he repeats that Promotion when he has the Monopoly on Flights there will soon be no other Hotels/Guest Houses on Alderney, who/what is next ?

Mr Coates is a Businessman, dont forget that !!!!

I really feel for the Alderney residents and Businesses if this deal goes ahead (R.I.P Alderney). Such a shame for a lovely Island and such friendly people.

Icey | Thu 22nd July 2010
Pinky, PLEASE DO NOT stand for the States. They are bad enough at not listening and dodging questions..

pinky | Thu 22nd July 2010
Ok, so looks like the options are:-
1- Blue Airlines buys Aurigny
Support Mr Coates, a small business man with vested interest in Alderney, with this bid he can re-establish the essential routes and have a chance at turning a loss making company. This will in turn benefit all on the island. Do you really think he is so stupid he will let his hotel and the whole island suffer with less flights!?!
2- FlyBe buys Aurigny
FlyBe, a big business whose only interest is saving and making money, they have one concern Aurignys Guernsey-Gatwick route. Let them buy Aurigny so their auditors can analyze all loss making routes and suddenly you will see everyone in Alderney using a Ferry on and off the Island. Tourism, Business and Locals suffer a slow death alike.
Is Mr Coates bid ideal? NO
Is Mr Coates bid the best option on the table? At the moment YES
If your concern is Mr Coates reselling Aurigny at a later stage, then support him re-establishing successful routes now so they are less likely to be cut by the bigger boys at a later stage.
Re: Hello- contrary to your belief Aurigny has never been a public service, all the same did I not mention subsidised and means tested flights for locals?

Elizabeth | Thu 22nd July 2010
Dearest Pinky............. Please, please don't stand for States. If you think the proposed merger is a idea it just goes to show how out of touch with the Islanders you are ??!!. Just take a few moments to listen to people chatting next time you are the newsagents, supermarket, pub, or even the Belle Vue !!. Most people here in Alderney think this isn't a good idea and some Guernsey States members don't either.
Freedom of speech to everyone in Alderney is fair even...... if they work at The Belle Vue !!!

Hello | Thu 22nd July 2010
Unfortunately such contractual obligations between governments and private operators are rarely set in stone. Having been involved in the troubled Public Private Partnership on London Underground it became apparent that clauses were agreed to in order gain the contract and then attempts made to wriggled out of them later.....

pinky | Wed 21st July 2010
What’s Alderneys so called Politicians worried about, come on wake up, it’s so simple! As part of the sale of Aurigny The States should include a clause in the contract which requires whoever it is buying Aurigny to keep a constant, regular and direct (i.e. not via Guernsey, Jersey, France or other) link between Alderney and Southampton (note: use of the word Southampton and not the more vague UK) with a cap on the fare prices, maybe using subsidised or means tested fares for locals thanks to States Income Tax?
This leaves the new owners open to manage the less essential loss making routes and explore new links to suit their new business and the island as a whole while maintaining the vital lifeline that we all need.
What’s the worry!
Do I really have to run for The States next time round or is there a danger that this might just have crossed their minds already!?!