Airport Consultation 14 – 22 June
Rosemary Stevenson, who has been commissioned by DFID to lead the airport consultation process will visit the island from 14 – 22 June 2009.
It is important Rosemary meets with as many people as possible when she’s here as the outcome of her visit will play a big part in HMG’s decision on whether or not to build an airport.
A programme has been drawn up for Rosemary to meet with various groups/people around the island including public meetings as follows:
Consulate Hotel – Tuesday, 16th June 2009 at 7pm
Kingshurst Community Centre – Wednesday, 17th June 2009 at 7pm
Harford School – Thursday, 18th June 2009 at 7pm
Free transport and light refreshments will be provided.
Please listen to Saint FM for transport times.
There will also be a Surgery on Tuesday, 16th June, 9am – 12.30pm and 4pm – 5pm. This surgery is intended for people with appointments only. Appointments can be made with Clare Harris on Telephone 2494.
Drop in Surgery’s, where members of the public can drop in without an appointment, will be held at the following venues.
Saturday, 20th June 2009
Half Tree Hollow Community Centre, 9:30 – 11am
Kingshurst Community Centre, 1:30am – 1pm
Blue Hill – (Venue to be advised), 2 – 3pm
Sandy Bay Community Centre from 4 – 5pm
Sunday, 21st June 2009
Ruperts Valley Church, 11:30am – 12:30pm
Harford School, 1:30 – 3pm
Levelwood Community Centre, 4 – 5pm
There will also be an opportunity for members of the public to phone in their views to Rosemary at Saint FM on Friday 19th at 1:30 – 2:30pm
It is important to note that Rosemary will be here to listen. The meetings are intended for anyone living on St Helena to express their views on the three options that DFID have identified. i.e. whether to a) proceed with an airport or b) commission a new ship or c) to defer the decision for five years.
Rosemary will then provide DFID with a summary of all the views expressed to her.
Given the importance of this consultation, and the impact the outcome will have on the future of St Helena, we urge as many people as possible to take the opportunity to attend these meetings to make sure that Rosemary delivers the right message on her return to the UK.
If anyone requires any further information or if you would like to have a copy of the programme or Rosemary’s Terms of Reference, please contact Clare Harris on telephone 2494 or e-mail accessassistant@sainthelena.gov.sh.
Posted on 5 June 2009
Filed Under General Information, Public Meetings | 1 Comment
Statement from DFID’s Overseas Territories Department 9th April 2009
ON 8TH DECEMBER 2008, THE UK GOVERNMENT STUNNED ST HELENA BY ANNOUNCING A ‘PAUSE’ IN THE AIRPORT NEGOTIATIONS, JUST DAYS BEFORE THE CONTRACT WAS DUE TO BE SIGNED. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT ON 16TH MARCH SAYING THAT IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT GLOBAL ECONOMIC CLIMATE, A DECISION HAD BEEN MADE TO HOLD A CONSULTATION ON OPTIONS FOR ACCESS TO THE ISLAND.
THE UK DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (DFID) HAS NOW RELEASED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT AND A ‘CONSULTATION DOCUMENT’ (which can be found in the links below the statement).
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Statement from DFID’s Overseas Territories Department 9th April 2009
The Overseas Territory of St Helena is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world and can only be reached by sea.
Current access arrangements, via the Government-subsidised Royal Mail Ship St Helena, limit the prospects for sustainable economic growth.
In March 2005, the Government announced its intention to establish air access for St. Helena. However, since May 2007, when the Government re-tendered the contract to design, build and operate an airport for the island, the financial climate has changed dramatically. It is against this background that the Government announced on 8 December 2008 that it would be pausing the negotiations on the St Helena Airport.
Whilst remaining committed to ensuring that access to the island should not be reduced, we needed to consider whether the building of an airport was the most appropriate choice in these rapidly changing circumstances.
For more information, please see the documents linked below.
Consultation
Consultation Annex
Consultation Summary
Airport Feasibility Study
The following documents make up the St Helena Access Feasibility Study conducted in 2004:
Main Report
Appendices Volume 1
Appendices Volume 2