Friday’s storm causes havoc at east coast

SEVERE weather on Friday night caused major flooding to parts of the east coast and damage to the Castle Emplacement and slipway at Havelet Bay. The storm also upended a pontoon in St Peter Port harbour.

Pic by Tony Rive 10-11-18 The up-turned Swan Pontoon (Swan 1) in St Peter Port Harbour east of the Crown Pier. The Pontoon broke in half before turning Turtle last night during the height of the Southerly Severe Gales and 9.4 metre High Spring Tide. A 60FT Foreign Catamaran had been moored alongside the Pontoon but the severity of the Gales pushed the vessel against it which caused the Pontoon to break then tun over. Harbour and Marina staff moved the Catamaran to the Cruise Tender Pontoon at the end of the Albert Pier. (23075971)

Les Banques bore the brunt of over-topping waves. Civil Protection Volunteers were out in force, closing off the area around the Red Lion pub as well as the North Bound Lane in front of Admiral Park Apartments and diverted traffic through Longstore.

One of the volunteers was positioned at the top of Elizabeth Avenue at Le Bouet junction to stop traffic from going down towards the sea front.

The force of the waves damaged the slipway barrier, making the road impassable. Bulwer Avenue was also closed.

A video taken by Tom Walters shows the extent of the flooding by the Red Lion pub.

‘I was stood behind the barriers erected by AFM so the underground car park for the flats wouldn’t flood,’ he said.

‘It was crazy. At least a foot and a half deep.’

Concrete slabs were ripped up at the Havelet Bay and coping stones were dislodged. The slipway at Havelet Bay showed signs of damage the next day. Cracks have also appeared in the seawall opposite the Red Lion.

Go to the Guernsey Press Facebook page to see Tom Walter’s video. www.facebook.com/pg/GuernseyPress