Channel Islands Live: 12 December

The first exports of processed waste are leaving Guernsey from a new £25m transfer station, which began operations last month.

Household rubbish and food is mechanically shredded at the facility at Longue Hougue, with some residual metal removed before is is compacted and made in to bales.

Those are then loaded on to trailers and shipped to Poole in England aboard Channel Seaways MV Valliant.

States of GuernseyCopyright: States of Guernsey

The bales then travel 40 miles (64km) to a treatment facility near Warminster, Wiltshire, where the material will undergo a process known as anaerobic digestion producing electricity, liquid fertiliser and compost.

From there the refuse derived fuel, or RDF, will be sent to Jonkoping, Sweden, where another plant will use it to produce heat and electricity.

Since last week, household waste has been diverted to the new facility from the Mont Cuet landfill site.

Tonight looks set to be dry with a few clear spells, but often a good deal of cloud.

Staying windy with a fresh to strong south-easterly breeze. A chillier night than last night. Minimum temperature: 2 to 5°C (36 to 41°F)

Thursday will be a cold and blustery day, but staying largely dry. The morning will be mostly cloudy, but brighter skies should develop through the afternoon. Maximum temperature: 1 to 4°C (34 to 39°F).

Jersey:

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Guernsey:

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Senator Tracey Vallois says the next head of the board which sets pay policy for Jersey's government workers should not be a Health or Education minister.

She has resigned from the States Employment Board and stepped down as deputy chief minister but will remain as Education minister.

The announcement comes less than a week after hundreds of civil servants marched on Liberation Square, in protest at their latest pay offer.

Senator Vallois also abstained from a vote in the States last week over plans to free up more money for public sector workers.

She told BBC Jersey that if she had voted in that debate, she would have backed the plans to free up money.

Guernsey Airport has advised passengers they will have to enter departures via its new entrance.

On Facebook, bosses said: "From this Friday (14th Dec 2018) passengers will need to enter departures via our new entrance opposite the ground floor lifts in the terminal.

"The contractors will be starting work in the old security search area. Please allow plenty of time to meet your flight."

Tyrrell Dowinton AssociatesCopyright: Tyrrell Dowinton Associates

Guernsey Electricity is asking people to add their views to a review of pricing.

Researchers will be conducting face-to-face interviews over the next four days in St Peter Port, and representatives will be available to talk to from 09:00 until 17:00 at Guernsey Electricity's headquarters.

Results from the consultation will be made public in Spring 2019.

The price that farmers are paid for their milk will rise next year, but it's unclear whether the hike will also be passed on to shoppers.

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The rise, plus an increase in Guernsey Dairy’s operating costs, will see the wholesale gate price rise by 6.5p a litre from 6 January.

Farmers will also share an extraordinary lump sum payment of £156,000 from Guernsey Dairy towards increased costs that were incurred due to the unusually wet conditions in the spring and extended dry summer, which resulted in reduced pasture being available.

This additional financial support for 2018 will be funded from Guernsey Dairy’s reserves.

Guernsey Dairy general manager Andrew Tabel said: "The latest settlement follows detailed negotiations with representatives from the Guernsey Farmers’ Association and included detailed analysis of production, processing and packaging costs."

The States said: "As the retail price of milk is no longer fixed, it will be for milk distributors and retail outlets to decide whether to absorb the increase, in part or in full, or pass it on to their customers."

The "onerous demands" of three senior government roles has prompted Jersey's Education minister to step down from two of her posts, according to the island's chief minister.

Senator Tracey Vallois was Education minister, a deputy chief minister and chairwoman of the States Employment Board.

The board, which manages public sector workers, is currently embroiled in chaotic pay negotiations.

States of JerseyCopyright: States of Jersey

Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondre, said Ms Vallois had "made him aware" of the demands of her roles "during a significant period of change for the public sector".

"I have always known her first priority is to her Education portfolio," he said.

Ms Vallois said the first six months of the new government had been "challenging", and now priorities for the States had been set out in the "Common Strategic Policy" she wanted to devote her efforts to Education only.

Quote Message: Throughout my time in politics I have provided consistent and appropriate challenge, in order to ensure rigour and quality assurance of the government and its policies, and this will continue.

Throughout my time in politics I have provided consistent and appropriate challenge, in order to ensure rigour and quality assurance of the government and its policies, and this will continue.

Quote Message: I will also continue to support the chief minister, and work alongside all ministers across areas of governance and reform, to ensure that we govern in the interests of all islanders." from Senator Tracey Vallois

I will also continue to support the chief minister, and work alongside all ministers across areas of governance and reform, to ensure that we govern in the interests of all islanders."

One of Jersey's largest pub companies has said a blanket ban on smoking in al fresco areas would infringe on drinker's human rights.

At the St Helier Roads Committee the motion to adopt the ban was rejected.

Members expressed concerns over how it would be policed, and how it would affect the town's image.

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Christine Oxford, from the Liberation Group, said smoking "was not illegal" and businesses with al fresco licenses should not be forced to impose a total ban.

However, she said the group was not opposed to "non-smoking areas".

"We need to do everything we can to enable people to enjoy eating outside in St Helier," she said, claiming the smoking ban could affect the town's vibrancy.

The committee said it wanted to gather more research on other options, including partial bans and exceptions for businesses who did not offer food.

A similar ban was proposed and rejected in the UK in 2017.

The president of Guernsey's Health and Social Care Committee has apologised for the waiting times for orthopaedic surgery.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Deputy Heidi Soulsby said demand for services had grown significantly.

She told States members: "Part of the demand is due to an ageing population, increasingly complex medical issues and obesity is also a factor."

A ban on smoking in al fresco drinking and dining areas around St Helier has been rejected.

Questions were raised by members of the parish’s roads committee over whether a blanket ban was appropriate.

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Others suggested further research was needed and plans could be put forward in the future to allow businesses to participate in an optional smoking ban for the areas.

A survey put out by the parish to the public, which received 113 responses, found 58% in favour of smoke free al fresco areas, 39% against and 3% were unsure.

But when asked, only 31% of existing al fresco license holders were in favour of smoke free zones.

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Some say the bike is king in Sark.

It is certainly the favoured mode of transport on the car-less island when it comes to voting in the election.

Polls opened at 10:00, with the first voter going through the door three minutes later.

It is the first contested election in the island for five years, with 15 candidates vying for nine seats in Chief Pleas, Sark's parliament.

A Jersey scrutiny leader has urged the States to get on with building a new hospital before it's too late.

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Speaking six months after the new Council of Ministers was formed, health scrutiny chair, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, said there should be no more delays.

She said she'd seen no evidence to support it going on to a different site and there was a risk the existing facility wouldn't be fit for purpose for much longer.

She also dismissed concerns about the noise and disruption that would be caused by rebuilding on the current site.

Health Minister, Deputy Richard Renouf, agreed and said work should begin as soon as possible.

The last States of Guernsey meeting of the year has started.

The presidents of Environment and Infrastructure and Health and Social Care will provide general updates on the work of their committees.

There'll also be a statement from the vice-president of Policy & Resources about the review of air and sea links infrastructure.

Also on the agenda are the funding for medical drugs and the potential acquisition of new aircraft for Aurigny.

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Voters in Sark go to the polls in the island's first contested election for five years.

There are 15 candidates vying for nine seats in Chief Pleas, the island's parliament.

Polls open at 10:00 at the Island Hall and close at 18:00.

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Quote Message: The fact that there are 15 candidates for nine places shows that there's an interest. There has been a buzz about this election around the island for quite a while. from Arthur Rolfe Sark Returning Officer

The fact that there are 15 candidates for nine places shows that there's an interest. There has been a buzz about this election around the island for quite a while.

Voters in Sark go to the polls on Wednesday in the island's first contested election in five years.

Polls open at 10:00 at the Island Hall.

The island's parliament has been reduced in size to 18, with half of the seats being contested. There are 15 candidates vying for nine positions in Chief Pleas.

The last time Sarkees had a choice of candidates was back in a December 2013 by-election.

Polls close at 18:00, with 363 eligible voters on the island's electoral roll.

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