Disposal expert has fears over unexploded bombs

Former army demolition specialist Ben Remfrey, currently managing director of the Mines Awareness Trust Kosovo Training Centre, said there was ‘no doubt whatsoever’ about bombs near Wellington Close – a new housing development at the bottom of Route Isabelle.

Mr Remfrey decided to go public with his claims following the unexpected explosion of a Second World War bomb at a Japanese airport earlier this week.

‘This is something I can no longer keep quiet about, due to what may and could happen,’ he said.

Police confirmed they had been aware of the potential issue in a privately owned field since 2018.

But they said that the British Army had said there was no evidence of an immediate risk to the public, and a later non-invasive survey could find no evidence of the bombs.

‘The specialists acknowledged that this survey did not rule out the existence of the ordnance, however the recommendation was made that while a second survey could be carried out, as long as there was no development in the area there was no requirement to carry out deeper investigations,’ the police spokesman said.

‘If a second survey involving excavation was to have been carried out, a cordon stretching to Waitrose on the Rohais and to the hospital would have to be put in place, which would have caused disproportionate disruption to the community in light of the initial survey not producing any evidence.’

In March 1941 the Royal Air Force was believed to have dropped four bombs, targeting the German Naval headquarters in St Jacques.

Missing their target, they landed opposite Le Foulon Cemetery.

One detonated, while three hit soft ground and penetrated without detonating.

In 1941, letter correspondence between authorities indicated that two of the bombs left funnels, with one suspected to be 26ft deep.

The Germans used explosive charges to close up the holes.

The third bomb, which landed closest to Route Isabelle, fell into waterlogged ground and the entry hole collapsed.

Mr Remfrey said when bombs penetrate ground they often ‘J trajectory’, or travel upwards after encountering resistance from the ground while travelling through the earth.

He said Lieutenant Voegeli – an unqualified German officer who was in charge of the site at the time – stated that the bombs would not pose a danger of exploding in future.

‘He said that in 1941, not having a clue what he was talking about.’

Mr Remfrey said that he believed that it was on the strength of this ‘ill-advised’ comment that the States allowed the Wellington Close housing development to be built.

In 2019 the States commissioned a UK company to undertake a survey to ascertain the exact location of the bombs, but Mr Remfrey said the survey was done with limited resources and a strict budget, which precluded it to be done correctly and with the right equipment.

‘Excuses as to why nothing has been done by the States have been that [the bombs] are over 80 years old and that Covid got in the way,’ he said.

‘“If they have not gone bang by now, they will never go bang’’ I was told.’

‘They are fully aware of the situation, as are several local politicians.’

The police spokesman said police and the States took the risk of historic ordnance very seriously.