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£600,000 spend on new harbour office criticised at People's Meeting

A proposed spend of £642,000 on a new Harbour Office was criticised at Alderney's December People's Meeting.

A Billet item asked the States to approve funding from the Capital budget of £610,000 for the new building. Additional sums, £15,000 in 2007 and £17,000 in 2009, had already been approved for the project for preliminary costs.

Carol Neill told the People's Meeting: "I could build a mansion for that. It's a ridiculous sum of money."

But she congratulated the States for appointing an Alderney firm to do the work. AJ Bohan has put in the winning tender and Geomarine will provide piling for £18,000.

John Beaman, who was convening the meeting, said the figure included demolition, construction, relocation of the office while work is carried out to the passenger waiting room, plus professional fees and a small contingency fund. He said of total sum only £448,000 was for the actual build of the new office. Mr Beaman, who at last month's Policy and Finance Committee with Ian Tugby voted against the allocation of a £610,000 budget for the project, added: "Four years ago I went into the Harbour Office and I was appalled at the conditions in there. There were cracks you could put you hands through. It was not a safe building. I'm not necessarily in favour of what is written down here but they do need a safe building."

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