£20m. bid for Guernsey's coastal defences

In an extensive interview with the Guernsey Press about his time in office, outgoing Environment minister Roger Domaille said it was obvious defences had been neglected.

Last year the States noted a coastal strategy which highlighted £55m. needed to be spent on fortification over 20 years.

In particular the report put forward St Sampson's Harbour and Belgrave as immediate priority areas, with more than 2,000 homes at risk from rising sea levels.

'Shortly we will see the big ticket items coming to the States, the improvements to defences in the priority areas of St Sampson's Harbour and Belgrave,' said Deputy Domaille.

'They will be coming back in July and will require funding of around £20m.'

The multi-million pound bid includes a system for improved 'real time' monitoring of flood risks around the island's coastline at an initial cost of around £200,000. It could require a further £10,000 a year to run.