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Roadworks Le Val - 4th March 2010
Dear road user
Please note that traffic on
This work will allow the Water Board to make further connections to the new water main.
Thank you for your continued support during these road closures.
Julie Turner
Julie B Turner
States Engineer
Ex-Aurigny Trislander pilot becomes Alderney Jurat.
Alderney, 3rd December 2009: The Court of Alderney today witnessed the appointment of Sally Barber to the panel now representing its full seating of 7 Jurats.
Sally Barber, Alderney resident and mother of son Duncan who is a Secruity Consultant for Hunter Oil in Yemen, replaces Geoff Island who retired at the end of September. Due to turning 60 Sally had to stop flying single crew from her post as an Aurigny Trislander Pilot on her birthday 10th July 2009, after 19 years of service has maintained her allegiance to Aurigny by continuing her employment as a part-time Customer Services Agent on the Aurigny Desk at Alderney Airport. In her spare time Sally serves the community as a member of Alderney’s St Johns Ambulance
Sally Barber presented the warrant signed by the Jack Straw and dated 2nd November, to Colin Partridge, Chairman of the Court who welcomed Sally Barber to the Court of Alderney.
Sally said “I am very honoured to be chosen to be a jurat and will endeavour to fulfil my duties, to the best of my ability”.
Editor’s Contact: Joanna Parmentier, Marketing & PR Manager, States of Alderney, t. 01481 825536 e. joanna.parmentier@gov.gg
PR And Marketing Annual Report 2009
Mission Statement"To market the island as a tourist destination, as well as business, e-commerce and investment. To efficiently achieve this within the remit of the allocated budget, using the most cost-effective marketing tools, such as, press relations, namely press visits, editorial, advertising, advertorial, event supports, exhibitions, brochures, posters, e-mail marketing and website."PR & Marketing Strategy 2009
The campaign continued to be specifically targeted to the niche markets, these being the special interests such as Wildlife, Walking, Angling, Sailing, Golf and Aviation. The over 50’s and couples with a high disposable income, no children, or children who have left home, and young affluent families, were included, with Alderney being marketed as a safe, relaxing and peaceful destination. The key geographical areas being Jersey, Guernsey, France and UK, specifically the South of England, Cornwall, Wales and the Home Counties.
Budget
The tourism budget was held at £114,000.
2009 Tourist Figures
Inevitably the current economic climate has affected tourist numbers during 2009 resulting in a general downturn in the number of passengers carried by the airlines to the island of 3%.
Malcolm Coupar from Aurigny said “2009 proved a very challenging year for airlines, and whilst Aurigny’s performance on Alderney routes was slightly ahead of forecast thanks primarily to Blue Islands unexpectedly withdrawing from the Bournemouth route, it was still poor in financial terms. In overall terms for Alderney, a contraction of just 3% in its’ air markets in 2009 was a good result, and Aurigny is pleased to have increased its’ share of these markets to 80%.”However, the number of visiting private aircraft and their crew increased by 9% and 13% respectively, which is really encouraging.
Keith Webster, Alderney Airport Manager said “The overall annual figures show a 9% improvement in private aircraft arrivals over 2009. Given the financial downturn, that has to be something to be proud of.”At the harbour the number of ferry sailings decreased by 4 (some were cancelled due to weather) and the number of passengers were down by 641 (15%). The number of yacht nights spent on the island increased by 6% as did the number of crew.
The Alderney Harbour Office said “Despite the economic downturn we have seen a 6% increase in both the number of visiting yachts and their crew for 2009. These increases are a reflection of favourable weather conditions, a targeted marketing campaign, the encouraging pound / euro exchange rate and the service provided by Alderney harbour including a much improved Mainbrayce water taxi service for all visiting leisure vessels. I am aware that when compared with the number of yachts visiting French ports within the locality we have achieved good figures for 2009. Although the ferry passenger numbers have decreased by 15%, and the sailings by 4, as some were cancelled due to weather, in 2008 Manche Iles Express carried 123 passengers per sailing and in 2009, 118, so this is only a reduction of 5 passengers per sailing”.Overall the season fared well despite the current global economic situation.
The complete 13 page report may be downloaded at the link below.
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PR And Marketing Annual Report 09.pdf
This report is now available in PDF format. [download] |
Roadworks Le Vallee/Crabby Rd area
Please note the following road closures which may affect you.All are in the Crabby Rd / Vallee area.
Monday 18th January – road closure at Crabby Rd between Pilot’s View and the junction with Picaterre. The Picaterre/Vallee junction will be open throughout. This is to allow a water pipe connection to be made outside the old Crabby Stores, at the top of the cobbled lane to Fort Doyle.
From Tuesday 19th January for three weeks, the section of the Vallee between Butes Lane and the Bakery will be completely closed to through traffic on weekdays. The road will be opened at weekends. The junctions with Butes Lane and Stoney Lane will remain open throughout.
Residents of the closed section of the road will be given access wherever possible, although this may be difficult at times.
The above closures will allow the Water Board to connect up individual properties to the new water main laid recently. This will meant that water in this area will flow through new HDPE pipes and not the old cast iron pipes which are corroded, brittle and prone to breaking and leaks in this area.
Many thanks for your co-operation.
Julie B Turner
States Engineer
Swine Flu Vaccinations Update - November 2009
GPs will be inviting under-5s to receive the Swine Flu vaccine from the beginning of next week.
The States Influenza Pandemic Expert Advisory Group decided last week to recommend the extension of the island’s vaccination programme for children aged from six months up to five years.
The vaccine will be offered through GP surgeries. They will write to patients from this week to invite them to make an appointment.
Young patients will be over six months and under five years as at 1 December 2009 (the day the UK is due to start its child vaccination programme).
The swine flu vaccine is offered in two half doses, three weeks apart, for this age group, and there will be charges for administering the vaccine of £10.65 on each occasion.
The under-5s have been selected for vaccination as scientific evidence has highlighted a small, but higher risk of hospitalisation than for other age groups among those children who contract the virus.
Director of Public Health Dr Stephen Bridgman said:
‘Our vaccination programme is progressing well and we have sufficient vaccine stocks. The GPs are reporting that they are very busy dealing with flu-like illness and the ongoing vaccinations and so we have decided to invite people to come forward.
‘Please wait for your invitation from your doctor rather than contacting them directly, although we are confident that will be fairly soon.’
Dr Bridgman said that the vaccination of people considered to be high risk was coming to a conclusion. People who believed that they should be classified as higher risk, but had not received an invitation – particularly those who normally receive the winter flu jab, could now approach GP surgeries to receive the vaccine if they wished.
The recent rise in cases of flu-like illness has had a knock-on impact at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. A number of patients have failed to show for outpatient appointments, and the hospital is asking people who are missing appointments due to illness to telephone to cancel.
20th November
Swine flu vaccine is to be offered to under five-year-olds in Guernsey within the next few weeks.
Following the UK Government’s decision to extend the vaccination programme yesterday, the States Influenza Pandemic Expert Advisory Group today agreed to do the same for children aged from six months up to five years.
‘In most cases this is a mild to moderate illness, but the scientific evidence has highlighted a small risk of hospitalisation in a small number of previously healthy under-5s,’ said Director of Public Health Dr Stephen Bridgman.
‘Our priority vaccination programme is proceeding well. Our next move is to order further stocks of vaccine and then we will roll out the next phase to this age group.’
The scientific evidence has highlighted a risk of hospitalisation in a small number of previously healthy under-5s.
It has not been decided yet whether the vaccine will be offered through community sessions or through GP surgeries. Dr Bridgman said that this would be agreed in due course.
Parents are advised not to request early vaccination before further announcements are made.
Under-fives considered to be in the higher-risk category are already being offered the vaccine.
Further evidence of swine flu and flu-like illness circulating in the island emerged today. More than 300 people (305) with flu-like symptoms have seen a doctor so far this week – almost double the previous peak in July.
There have been more cases tested under the surveillance regime this week which have returned positive for swine flu.
17th November
Some Island schools are continuing to experience high levels of absence among pupils through flu-like illness. Staff absence is currently low.
In the States maintained primary sector some 368 out of 3745 (9.8%) pupils are currently absent with 413 out of 2820 (14.6%) absent in the States maintained secondary sector. Not all are absent through flu-like illnesses and in many schools absence levels are on a par with previous years.
Some schools are affected more than others with La Mare de Carteret High and La Mare de Carteret Primary Schools currently experiencing the highest levels of pupil absence; La Mare de Carteret Primary School currently has 88 pupils out of 258 absent (34%) with 5 staff also off, La Mare de Carteret High has around 200 of its 531 pupils (37.6%) absent plus 7 staff.
All schools will continue to remain open while there are sufficient staff to ensure that they can operate safely.
The Department is monitoring absence levels on a daily basis and the local media will be informed of any escalation of the situation at the earliest opportunity.
Parents are asked to follow the advice of the Department of Public Health with regard to keeping pupils off school if they display any flu-like symptoms.
The Influenza Pandemic Expert Group discussed the rise in illness in schools at a scheduled meeting today.
It confirmed advice that children displaying symptoms of swine flu, particularly a high temperature, were recommended to stay off school for seven days. Children displaying severe symptoms or who failed to improve after a couple of days, were recommended to see a doctor, who could prescribe them anti-viral drugs.
Children with usual cold symptoms should be kept off school until they were feeling better, as parents would usually do.
It was agreed that the levels of illness being seen in some schools were likely to indicate a rise in cases of swine flu in the island. But of nine samples tested of patients with flu-like illness in the past week, only two were confirmed as the H1N1 virus, indicating that there are a variety of viruses circulating in the community.
Numbers of people seeing their doctor with flu-like illnesses increased markedly in the past week.
The take up of vaccine by high risk groups is going well, but Director of Public Health Dr Stephen Bridgman recommended that people who had been invited for vaccination should take up the offer. He also restated the need to continue good hygiene precautions.
The group will continue to monitor the situation.
16th November
Parents of children due to take an 11-plus examination tomorrow [Tuesday 17 November] have been advised not to send their children to school if they are not well.
The Education Department have written to some parents today, through schools, following high numbers of pupils – and in some cases, teachers – staying at home today with illness. Flu-like illness and colds were widely reported at some establishments, though not all schools are understood to be affected.
A spokesman for the Education Department said:
‘No parent should be obliged to send their child to school if the child is feeling unwell, especially if the only reason they are being sent into school is to undertake the 11-plus exams.
‘Parents should be reassured there will be an opportunity for any child to sit any missed exams at a later date.’
Education will continue to monitor sickness levels in schools.
‘Obviously we will need to monitor the situation to see how big the problem becomes,’ the spokesman added.
The Health and Social Services Department’s Influenza Pandemic Expert Group is due to meet with Education officers at a scheduled meeting tomorrow, when sickness levels at schools will be among the issues discussed.
5th November
Guernsey doctors are starting to see an increase in the numbers of patients with flu-like illness as they commence vaccination of ‘high risk’ islanders.
The island stopped swabbing all suspected cases some months ago but doctors have reported a near doubling of patients seen with flu-like illness in the past week to about 60.
A restricted testing regime has been running, which has seen a handful of cases confirmed in the past week.
In all, just 6% (22 cases) of all swabs sent to laboratories in the UK for tests since June have come back positive.
First stocks of the swine flu vaccine arrived in the island last week, a further 5,500 doses arrived again this week and more are expected. The Expert Flu Pandemic Team, headed by Director of Public Health Dr Stephen Bridgman, will consider extending the vaccination programme beyond the initial priority cases – people with long-term conditions, those with compromised immune systems through illness or treatment, their close contacts, and pregnant women – over the coming weeks.
Currently Guernsey is not recommending vaccination for children who do not qualify under the high risk criteria, as per UK policy.
Dr Bridgman said that he and the expert group were keeping a close watch on UK policy, the extent of the increase in illness in the community and also remaining aware of the need to be cost-effective.
Dr Bridgman added that he was aware that some concerns had been raised about swine flu vaccines.
He said that the vaccines had been made under the same process used to make seasonal flu vaccines, which have a good safety record, and tests had been carried out on the vaccines which had been licensed for use.
Vaccination is not compulsory, but is being recommended, particularly to those in the high risk groups.
The vaccine does not give the patient swine flu. There have been reports of people feeling ill after receiving it. Side-effects such as mild fever, swelling and soreness at the point of the injection, and general aches and pains are often seen with vaccines.
Travel advice from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office should be followed (www.fco.gov.uk)
Further information is available from the States of Guernsey:
gov.gg: Swine Influenza
gov.gg: Swine Influenza - Frequently Asked Questions
gov.gg: Swine Flu Press Release (30 April 2009)
gov.gg: Swine Flu Advice for Workplaces (30 April 2009)
Water supplies and treatment.
Press Release
Subject: Water supplies and treatment.
Ref. JP~SOA-016/2009
Tests carried out by Alderney Water for a chemical used in fire-fighting foam have confirmed that the island’s supplies are safe to drink.
The testing follows reports that the chemical, known as perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS), has been detected in streams around Guernsey Airport. The contamination is believed to have resulted from fire-fighting activities at the airfield, however health authorities have confirmed that the concentrations found in that island’s water supplies do not pose a risk to health.
The same fire-fighting foam previously used in Guernsey has also been stocked in the past at Alderney Airport. However this has now been replaced by a new type of foam, which does not contain PFOS.
Alderney Water was notified of Guernsey’s findings in September, and as a precautionary measure has taken samples from various streams and private supplies, as well as the Trigale storage tank.
These tests have confirmed that although PFOS is present in the local water supply, the concentrations are well below the safe level set by the UK’s Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).
Director of Public Health Dr Stephen Bridgman and Director of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation Val Cameron have confirmed that Alderney Water is safe to drink.
The chemical was detected in raw water in the Bonne Terre catchment area, but within the DWI guidelines. However, to date all raw water supplies to the Battery Quarry have been clear.
All local drinking water is distributed from the Trigale storage tank, tests of which have been within the DWI guidelines.
Operations at Alderney Airport, including fire fighting activities, are the responsibility of Guernsey’s Public Services Department. Any queries regarding the foam material should be addressed to the Department’s Jim Anderson on 717109.
Alderney Water will continue to monitor local supplies to ensure they continue to comply with all drinking water quality standards. It is in close consultation with Guernsey Water and the Environmental Health Department, to assess whether any remedial work may be required in the Bonne Terre area.
In the meantime it is intended to progress the implementation of the new Filtration Plant, the main purpose of which is to improve water quality, although this may require some enhancement, and the assistance of Guernsey Water is being sought to verify the design prior to proceeding with procurement. Because of these considerations the plant will now be later than originally planned, and in parallel with this therefore it is intended to also progress with Phase 3 of the water development project, the installation of new storage and pumping facilities to replace the outdated system at Trigale.
You may be assured that every care is being taken to ensure the safety of the water supplies and to improve the service and quality.
Issued by: Joanna Parmentier, Marketing & PR Manager, States of Alderney
t. 01481 825536, e. joanna.parmentier@gov.gg and w. www.visitalderney.com
For further information, please contact:-
States of Guernsey Public Services Department
Jim Anderson
01481 717109
mobile 07781 108325
Jim.Anderson@gov.gg
Swine Flu – Change in Travel Advice
ADVICE to people returning to Guernsey from Swine Flu-affected areas in
Staying off work or school for a week when returning from an affected area is no longer being recommended locally.
The decision has been taken by Director of Public Health Dr Stephen Bridgman in consultation with the Emergency Powers Advisory Group and the island’s Pandemic Flu Planning Group.
Dr Bridgman said that the change in advice should not be taken as a sign of complacency and that everyone needed to stay vigilant.
‘If someone has visited a high risk area where human cases of Swine Influenza have been identified, it is important that they are vigilant for any signs of illness in the seven days after they travel,’ he said.
‘But we are no longer recommending that people routinely need to isolate themselves from other people as long as they remain well.’
People returning from these areas who develop flu-like symptoms, including fever and high temperature above 38C, should stay at home and contact their GP for advice.
Dr Bridgman recommended the NHS Direct website (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk) to help people decide whether to contact a GP.
The decision to isolate travellers was taken in the early stages of the virus’s spread worldwide in the hope that it would contain its spread if introduced into the island. Jersey also took similar measures, more stringent than the
Guernsey agreed that people should stay at home during the period of possible incubation following reports from
There have been more than 50 Swine Flu deaths worldwide, the vast majority in
Dr Bridgman recommended people remember good hygiene advice. ‘General infection-control practices and good respiratory and hand hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including swine flu,’ he said.
‘People should remember the advice given about good hygiene – using tissues when coughing and sneezing and disposing of them immediately, and regularly washing hands with soap to prevent the virus from spreading once cases arise in the island.’
No possible new cases of Swine Flu in the island have been tested in the past week. Five tests had been returned negative in the previous week.
Medical Care Update March 2009
Medical Care for Visitors
The Reciprocal Health Agreement between the UK and the Channel Islands ended on 31st March 2009.All visitors to the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes Alderney, are advised to take out full travel insurance to cover the cost of any medical treatment that they may require and repatriation costs.
Medical Care for Persons taking up residence in Alderney
All GP’s are in private practice and a fee is payable for all consultations in the surgery, place of residence and the A & E Department at the Mignot Memorial Hospital.Dentists, opticians, physiotherapists and chiropodists are all in private practice.
Residents visiting the UK, whether for business or personal reasons, will have to pay for healthcare whilst there. It is, therefore, essential that Alderney residents have full Medical & Travel Insurance for the duration of their visit and ensure that their insurance policy covers for all eventualities. However, treatment received in an A & E Department, or similar walk-in treatment centre and immediate necessary treatment given by a GP, will not be charged for.
The Specialist Health Insurance Scheme covers the cost of specialist medical care provided by the Medical Specialist Group (MSG). This scheme also funds physiotherapy provided by the Guernsey Physiotherapy Group when the referral is by a member of the MSG and medical treatment for acute care patients in the Mignot Memorial Hospital. For acute care patients there is no charge for radiology, pathology, medication and accommodation.
Further details about both these schemes is available in leaflets which can be accessed through the web site www.gov.gg and then click on the Social Security icon or in paper form from the States Office in Alderney.
Charges are made for long stay patients and help is available through a means tested scheme if necessary.
Prescription medicines are available to residents on payment of a prescription charge of £2.80 (in 2009) per item. This entitles the resident to a 28 day supply. People over the age of 65 years or in receipt of Supplementary Benefit are exempt from this payment and must sign the declaration on the back of the prescription.
Any further details about hospital or medical facilities in the island may be obtained from Corporate Headquarters, Health & Social Services Department, Le Vauquiedor, St Andrews, Guernsey GY6 8TW. Tel. +44(0)1481 725241
Alderney’s Medical Services
| The Island Medical Centre Sundial House, Les Roquettes tel: +44 (0)1481 822077 | Eagle Medical Practice Stefan House Ollivier Court , Ollivier Street tel: +44 (0)1481 822494 | Dental Practice Venelles du Milieu tel: +44 (0)1481 823131 | Mignot Memorial Hospital Crabby tel: +44 (0)1481 822822 |
Alderney’s Ambulance Services
Ambulance services are provided by the St. John Alderney Ambulance Service which levies charges for attendance by ambulance personnel and for transport by ambulance or ambulance car.The service operates an Ambulance subscription scheme where an annual premium paid by 31 December each year covers the ambulance charges incurred the following year in Alderney
To gain immediate cover, please contact :
The Treasurer
St. John Alderney Ambulance Services
Century House, 12 Victoria Street
Alderney GY9 3UF, Channel Islands
tel: +44 (0) 1481 822020
fax: +44 (0) 1481 822134
e-mail: ald.amb@century.gg
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