Lihou signage should be improved, says warden
LIHOU causeway’s signage should be improved after two members of a family were swept away while attempting to cross back to Guernsey on Sunday, the island’s warden has said.
Steve Sarre said he was glad there was a happy outcome from the incident.
‘I felt very sorry for the people in the water, it must have been a very scary situation to be in,’ he said.
‘Luckily it had a good outcome but the situation possibly could have been avoided if they were aware of the tide times and the speed that the tide comes up.’
Mr Sarre said people should not start to cross the causeway after it has closed.
‘It was a big tide so it moves extra quick across the causeway so I can see possibly why they might have taken a slight gamble and thought “let’s give it a go”, which they shouldn’t have.’
Mr Sarre said he often sees people wading across, sometimes in chest-deep water, while he is working on the island.
He said while most locals are aware of the dangers of crossing, it is mostly visitors who get caught out and improving the information on offer at the site could help.
‘The tide times could be a bit easier to see and there’s a few old signs that possibly need upgrading,’ he said.
‘If you are stuck on the island, it would also be good to have a bit of signage to give people a bit of reassurance that we can get you off and that there is help there.’
His advice to anyone making the trip over to Lihou is to be aware of the crossing times, allow plenty of time, and not to make rash decisions.
The opening times for the causeway are published in the Guernsey Press.
The States of Guernsey was unavailable to comment.
