Coastal wounds still need to be healed

Work has now begun on patching up the anti-tank wall at L’Ancresse, but it is likely to prove vastly more expensive than promised by those who blocked the plans to remove a section at the end of last term.

In very short order this States needs to know if the patching strategy is cost effective, or whether they are signing away £11m. to pour concrete instead of considerably less to let a sand dune re-establish.

A fresh set of eyes can now run over all the projections without the fever of an election and without the personal baggage, because this is an issue that should be settled and settled quickly before it starts draining funds unnecessarily.

Earlier this week, Policy & Resources president Peter Ferbrache pledged to come up with a capital spending list within the next three months.

It can surely be no accident that accelerating progress on Fermain seawall, the Cow’s Horn steps and Havelet slipway were mentioned by name.

There is sense too in having a promised lawful emphasis in favour of Guernsey businesses, an issue already touched on by previous administrations.

‘We want the work to be carried out by Guernsey companies and a Guernsey workforce and for that money to recycle in our economy,’ Deputy Ferbrache said.

To a certain extent there will always be a need for visiting tradesmen and contractors due to both the capacity and expertise needed in some situations, and the States will need to keep a close eye on value for money, but recalibrating and casting the net wider on-island makes sense.

This States will have funds for building projects –the failure to use the bond money as promised can be allied to reserves already established.

Too much got bogged down in a procedural quagmire last term, but it is all still there to be picked up and run with.

The scars on our coastline are a symbol of failure and a poor image to project – they need to be healed.