Guernsey Press

Lack of funds halts L'Ancresse anti-tank wall work

PROGRESS to the next phase of work on a section of the anti-tank wall at L’Ancresse will not take place until funding is approved, the States was told by the president of Environment & Infrastructure.

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Deputy Chris Le Tissier. (29273126)

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez was answering questions by Deputy Chris Le Tissier over the project, which has seen work done to repair two panels.

Deputy Le Tissier, sitting in front of a Microsoft Teams background of L’Ancresse Bay, asked about progress on phase two and the introduction of rock armour.

A successful requete led by Deputy Al Brouard had seen the States back a plan to give the wall the best chance to remain intact for 10 years.

Deputy de Sausmarez said engineers from States Property Services had drawn up a multi-phased maintenance schedule and work had been carried by the previous committee ahead of the winter. This had cost £25,000.

The next phase of the work, the installation of rock armour, is due this year, but because no funding had been allocated by the requete, E&I and its officers had been ‘in constructive dialogue’ with officers at P&R with a view to it using its delegated authority to approve additional funding.

But if this was not forthcoming, E&I would have to bring a policy letter to the Assembly to ask members to approve the funds directly.

In another question, Deputy Le Tissier expressed concern that E&I had told him and islanders that the maintenance plan would be made public, but further enquiries had led to the committee denying publication, and he wondered if it would be made public any time soon.

Deputy de Sausmarez said the committee was keen to publish the maintenance schedule ‘as soon as a decision over its resourcing can be made’.