PUBLIC interest in plans to resurface the Airport’s runway was in short supply on Saturday when hardly anyone turned out to hear more about the £17m project.

Around 3,500 residents face noisy nights for half a year when work gets under way to resurface the runway in September, but only a dozen parishioners turned out to view the plans.

But organisers of the public exhibition, held at St Peter’s Parish Hall on Saturday, were not worried about the poor turn-out. David Mason of Capita Symonds, which is overseeing the work, said: ‘It shows that we have done a good job – we have dropped the leaflets to 3,500 households and had a briefing with States Members, the media, local parish officials and Airport staff. I think the message has got out there.’

The States have earmarked a budget of £19.5m for the work, but it is hoped the final bill will be nearer £17.2 million when it is completed at the end of next April. The Airport will be closed from 9 pm until 6 am each day and newspapers and mail will be delayed. No flights will be able to land after 9 pm.

• Picture: Project management team Stephen Driscoll and David Mason, with parish roads commitee member Alan Dix, (centre) in the deserted parish hall on Saturday afternoon