Channel Islands Live: 16 October

Voting in Guernsey's first Island-wide election could be done digitally, if one politician has his way.

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Deputy Neil Inder wants the States to investigate an internet-based system of voting in the 2020 General Election, with the intention of getting approval at next month's 2019 budget debate.

Deputy Inder believes it's time to deliver a "complimentary" system in addition to polling stations and postal voting.

"It's coming down the tracks - Estonia's doing it, parts of Australia [are voting through online technology]," he said.

"We've got a very small community. It's fairly simple to do, notwithstanding massive security issues.

"I can envisage it now, it's up to us if we grab it or not," he added.

The chairman of Age Concern in Guernsey says the island is ahead of the UK when it comes to dealing with loneliness.

David Inglis' comments come after the news that GPs in England have been given permission to prescribe patients "social" activities, such as dance classes, to tackle loneliness.

Mr Inglis says this is already happening in Guernsey...

People in Guernsey are being told to expect an influx of mice as the weather turns colder.

GSPCA manager Steve Byrne says the warm summer has been good to the species, but now they will be seeking shelter in houses.

Quote Message: Try and think about your own home. Have a walk around, think about being a mouse. They can climb up the walls, if there’s any holes in the roof they’ll get into them. If you’ve got cat flaps it might be an idea to think about a microchip flap which only opens and shuts when that particular animal is going in.” from Steve Byrne GSPCA

Try and think about your own home. Have a walk around, think about being a mouse. They can climb up the walls, if there’s any holes in the roof they’ll get into them. If you’ve got cat flaps it might be an idea to think about a microchip flap which only opens and shuts when that particular animal is going in.”

Islanders with an interest in wildlife and the environment are being invited to comment on a draft Wildlife Law that's being proposed.

The new legislation, which will act as Jersey's main law for managing wildlife, could impact on a range of activities from land management and development to education, research and pest control.

A number of meetings are planned for November, which islanders with a particular interest in environmental matters are invited to join.

The meetings will focus on the seven key areas of change the new law will bring including revised definitions for what constitutes a "wild animal" and "wild bird", more protection for dens, nests, breeding sites and resting sites and a more effective licensing framework.

An online questionnaire has been launched asking islanders for their views.

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Quote Message: Jersey has a rich and varied wildlife, some of which are locally rare and some that are of European and international importance. The new law is needed to clarify protection for our wildlife to ensure that we can properly care for our environment and implement the Council of Ministers' new strategic objectives. from Deputy John Young Minister for the Environment

Jersey has a rich and varied wildlife, some of which are locally rare and some that are of European and international importance. The new law is needed to clarify protection for our wildlife to ensure that we can properly care for our environment and implement the Council of Ministers' new strategic objectives.

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If you're in Guernsey you might be wondering what the switch to generating power on-island following a recent cable fault might mean for the environment.

The last prolonged interruption to Guernsey's power supply in 2012 for six months saw greenhouse gas emissions rise significantly.

Then, a break in the undersea cables between Guernsey, Jersey and France limited the amount electricity that could be imported from the french national grid, largely powered by nuclear energy.

Instead, burning fuel locally led to power generation emissions increasing by 133% between 2011 and 2012.

Guernsey Electricity said a fix to the faulty section of a power cable that caused the Guernsey-wide outage earlier this month was expected by "peak winter demand".

People in Guernsey are learning how to use a defibrillator to mark Restart A Heart Day.

The St John Emergency Ambulance Service is working with the Cardiac Action Group to support an international initiative.

St John Emergency Ambulance Service responds to an average of five cardiac arrests a month in Guernsey.

Senior officer and first aid trainer, Dave Melbourne says islanders "shouldn't be intimidated" by the machines...

People travelling to and from Guernsey Airport are being asked to ensure they check-in for flights on time because the information display in the terminal is broken.

Engineers are working on the problem.

A Jersey deputy has supported a call for new laws to govern professional dog walkers in the island - but says the States must spend money to enforce them.

There are currently 66 businesses licensed as dog walkers in Jersey.

Deputy Gregory Guida is overseeing the drafting of the new laws, saying there aren't enough checks on people and companies offering a dog walking service.

He agreed with campaigners there's a risk of cruelty to animals and a chance dogs mess could be left in public areas.

However, he says unless the Department of Environment is given more resources, it won't be able to enforce any changes in the law....

Jersey's planning minister is hoping to change the way people appeal against planning decisions.

Currently, an independent inspector is asked to look over all the evidence before making a recommendation to the minister.

But Deputy John Young said he thought more people should be involved in making the final decision, including a tribunal...

Deputy Young said he hoped people would be able to have their say on the proposals early next year.

The responses would then be used to decide if changes should be made, he said.

Two men were arrested after a "violent attack" in Jersey where a pole was used as a weapon, police have said.

It happened on 5 October between 22:15 and 22:45.

An argument first took place between three men and two women in King Street which then continued into the Royal Square where an alleged assault happened.

A further "aggressive" assault took place on Library Place before reaching Mulcaster Street when one of the men used a pole as a weapon, police added.

Two men, aged 24 and 27, were arrested on the night and later released on bail.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Jersey Police.

Two Guernsey politicians want to reopen the debate on waste charges because the issue has not been properly thought through, they say.

It comes as the States prepare to cement previously-agreed rates in law next week.

Six months ago, deputies finally agreed on the balance between fixed annual charges and costs per black bag, agreeing on an £85 annual standing charge and £2.50 per bag.

Now two deputies want the debate to be reopened with the same three options on the table as were discussed back in April.

Deputies Lester and Laurie Queripel said it should be more of a so-called pay-as-you-throw scheme as originally intended, with a lower annual charge and higher bag charges to encourage islanders to produce less waste.

Jersey's parishes could be called upon to help control a further population explosion of the Asian hornet, the environment minister has said.

Jersey's system of screening women for cervical cancer is to change.

It will follow the UK and introduce a more accurate testing system within the next 12 to 18 months.

Jersey's head of preventative care, Dr Linda Diggle, said the new tests would be more sensitive, increasing the ability to detect cancerous cells.

A BBC Jersey Freedom of Information request showed 20 women were diagnosed with the disease in the last five years.

The number of women going to appointments had fallen by a third over the past five years, the figures also showed.

A man was taken to hospital in Guernsey with "potentially serious injuries" after being hit by a car, emergency services have said.

Police said the car, a blue Ford Fiesta, was travelling downhill on St Julian's Avenue in St Peter Port at about 17:10.

The driver was uninjured, a force spokesman said, but the pedestrian, who was wearing a long, yellow sleeved running top, was taken to the emergency department of Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

A St John's Ambulance spokesman said the pedestrian was a man in his 50s.

The road was closed for several hours after the crash.

Early areas of mist will lift to leave Tuesday morning mainly dry with spells of sunshine. It will then cloud over through the afternoon with a little drizzle possible.

Maximum temperature: 13 to 16C (55 to 61F).

Jersey:

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Guernsey:

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