04 January: Car damage is 'stupid wanton vandalism'

The newly increased Guernsey state pension is being described as "comical" by a local pensioner. 

Pensions are going up by 0.8%, following a decision by the States of Guernsey last year. President of the Employment and Social Security Committee, Michelle Le Clerc, previously said it would be irresponsible to not be prudent in the current economic climate.

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Pensioner Rodney Hamon lives in States housing and says this amount, combined with rising rent and insurance payments could leave islanders with little disposable income.  

Quote Message: We are living in poverty. If the telly broke down, we haven't got the money put aside to fix it." from Rodney Hamon Pensioner

We are living in poverty. If the telly broke down, we haven't got the money put aside to fix it."

More capacity is being put in place at a digital printing centre in Jersey so that it can produce Guernsey’s national newspapers, the Guernsey Press reports.

St John Emergency Ambulance Service experienced double the average number of emergency calls in 24 hours on Tuesday. 

The service says it dealt with:

• 30 emergency calls 
• 10 routine transfers of patients 
• 9 potentially seriously life threatening calls, including patients suffering with chest pain or fitting

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Four off-duty staff were called in to help with the high demand of calls in the evening. One call included helping a young man visiting the island who hurt his back while jumping into the sea at 11:51 at Havelet Bay slipway. He was later transferred to the emergency department.  

Tonight on BBC Channel Islands News with Charlie McArdle, we hear from a Jersey woman who is "embarrassed" by how few people are signed up to be organ donors in the island.

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A Jersey minister will look into whether more help can be given to islanders with high energy bills. It's after an independent report says, while Jersey gas prices are high, they don't need to be controlled by a regulator.  

And we meet 27-year-old Guernsey man, James Plumley, who will row across the Indian Ocean.

Jersey's government has "not done enough" to encourage people to become organ donors, says the island's Health Minister. 

Twelve per cent of islanders are registered organ donors - compared to a third of people in the UK, according to a BBC Radio Jersey Freedom Of Information request.

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France has introduced an opt out system, where it is assumed that someone wants to donate their organs upon death, unless they say otherwise. 

The Health Minister, Senator Andrew Green, says he wants to consult the community on whether a similar system would work here.  

• Roadworks are underway on the Rohais. They'll last about five weeks. The first phase is between Collings Road and the Rohais Du Haut where there are temporary traffic lights. Bus routes 41, 42, 51 and 52 are affected 
• In the Castel, Rue Cohu is closed from Le Villocq to Le Friquet. This impacts on bus route 41 and the P2
• Summerfield Road in the Vale is closed from La Hure Mare to Vale avenue until Friday affecting bus routes 11, 91, 92
• The Canichers in St Peter Port is closed for emergency repairs due to a leaking water service
• Jerbourg Road is closed until tomorrow, affecting bus route 81

Almost £3,000 of taxpayers’ money has been spent on ‘limousine’ hire in the past two years, it has been revealed in a report in the Jersey Evening Post.

There are plans to build a 605 space multi-storey car park and 15 new properties on the old Ann Street brewery site in St Helier.

The scheme, submitted by Comprop C.I developers, follows plans to create a supermarket with multi-storey car park, which failed to go ahead despite approval in 2014. 

Waddington/Comprop C.ICopyright: Waddington/Comprop C.I

The plans:

• Multi-purpose car park of 605 spaces for shoppers, commuters, overnight residents, retaining the listed Ann Street façade
• 15 new build apartments
• Road improvements on Ann Street
• Art work on the old Ann Street facade
• Introduce a pedestrian link from St Saviour’s Road through to the Town Park    

Quote Message: We have been endeavouring to find a suitable solution for the regeneration of this former brownfield site for some considerable time...and hope that this outline planning approval will be granted" from Steve Marie Managing Director Comprop C.I

We have been endeavouring to find a suitable solution for the regeneration of this former brownfield site for some considerable time...and hope that this outline planning approval will be granted"

Work needs to be done to establish whether pay for women in Guernsey is improving, according to the founder of gender equality group, Guernsey's Women's Development Forum (WDF)

A study released today in the UK suggests the gender pay gap for women in their 20s has halved to five per cent. 

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Quote Message: Women in Guernsey are currently working lower paid jobs; and doing more part time hours, while more men are in senior positions and earning better money, according to the Annual Earnings Bulletin" from Michelle Johansen Women's Development Forum

Women in Guernsey are currently working lower paid jobs; and doing more part time hours, while more men are in senior positions and earning better money, according to the Annual Earnings Bulletin"

ThinkstockCopyright: Thinkstock

Currently there is not enough data to establish whether women in Guernsey are faring better. The WDF is working with the States of Guernsey to obtain more data on gender pay. 

A £20,000 sponsorship deal for the Jersey Island Walk has been agreed.

Finance company, State Street, will back the 48-mile walk.

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The firm said it wanted the arrangement to be for the long term, to give the walk a stable future. 

Joy Carrey, who chairs the walk, said it was "reassuring to organisers and walkers."

Calls are being made for the States to address the value and unfairness of nurses’ pay compared to other States workers, the Guernsey Press reports.

St Helier Constable, Simon Crowcroft, has snapped a picture of a horse appearing to get on a bus in London.

He told the Islington Gazette he came across the "strange scene" on Upper Street while in the city on Tuesday.

Simon CrowcroftCopyright: Simon Crowcroft

Invictor the horse, was "showing he's a team player" by helping a man who had collapsed, said Officer Dan Smith at the Met Police. 

The force said its mounted horse unit carries out day-to-day patrols and is tasked like any other unit.

The rights of clergy in the Church of England who won't marry same sex couples on "grounds of conscience" have to be protected, says the Anglican Vice Dean of Guernsey.

The Reverend Mike Keirle says the States and the UK Parliament "cannot interfere" in matters of doctrine and legislate on behalf of the established church. 

ThinkstockCopyright: Thinkstock

Quote Message: If the States were to force the church to marry gay people you would then give gay people the right to be married, but you would take away the right of those who, out of conscience, might not be able to take the marriage." from Reverend Mike Keirle Anglican Vice Dean of Guernsey

If the States were to force the church to marry gay people you would then give gay people the right to be married, but you would take away the right of those who, out of conscience, might not be able to take the marriage."

The Council of Ministers has been branded "incompetent" over its handling of plans to pay for a new hospital. 

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Constable Chris Taylor claims the Public Accounts Committee has not had sufficient time to scrutinise the £466m proposal as it was lodged so late.

He added that scrutiny "has been sidelined" over the plans, most of which would be paid for by borrowing money. 

The BBC is awaiting a comment from the Council of Ministers.

A new website for disabled travellers has launched in Jersey. 

The Jersey Disabled Travel site was set up by local wheelchair user, Angela Francey, and web developer, Rob Dudley, to provide disability information. 

Science Photo LibraryCopyright: Science Photo Library

Quote Message: When you are in a chair and you see things from a different perspective. People don't always see you. You feel helpless and insignificant, and I thought there has to be a one-stop shop where people can go and Google about life with a disability." from Angela Francey Founder of Jersey Disabled Travel

When you are in a chair and you see things from a different perspective. People don't always see you. You feel helpless and insignificant, and I thought there has to be a one-stop shop where people can go and Google about life with a disability."

Thousands of Christmas trees are being made into soil conditioner and islanders have until the end of the month to dispose of them.

A horse appearing to get on a bus bemused a passer-by in north London.

Eyewitness Simon Crowcroft, Constable of St Helier, told the Islington Gazette he came across the "strange scene" on Upper Street while in the city on Tuesday.

The Met Police said officer Dan Smith was helping a man who had collapsed.

SIMON CROWCROFTCopyright: SIMON CROWCROFT

A competition report about Jersey's household gas prices "misses the point", according to a consumer rights group. 

The report by independent consulting firm, Oxera, said there was no need to regulate gas prices.

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Anne King, from the Jersey Consumer Council, said while she welcomed the report, she questions why household gas prices do not fall in line with wholesale prices.

Quote Message: The retail price and wholesale price, according to Oxera should be mirroring each other more, and retail prices should have mirrored the same decline in wholesale prices, but it hasn't." from Anne King Jersey Consumer Council

The retail price and wholesale price, according to Oxera should be mirroring each other more, and retail prices should have mirrored the same decline in wholesale prices, but it hasn't."

A Jersey politician stumbled across the bizarre scene of a police horse climbing onto a bus.