Sea defences must become top priority

The problem is twofold and one aspect is already dealt with as need arises in the form of repairs to damaged seawalls. The second is far more complex and potentially horrendously expensive, involving the raising and armouring of existing defences – principally on the east coast but also at Grand Havre and areas of the north and west coasts.

Recent photographs in the Guernsey Press illustrate the extreme vulnerability of St Peter Port's harbour area and the Esplanade in particular, where 'overtopping' occurs without the assistance of strong winds and a similar marginal situation exists at St Sampson's.

Rising sea levels cannot be ignored, as supporting evidence already exists, however, it is likely to be a slow process extending over a long period.

This being so, it gives the enormous advantage of time to improve and extend existing defence levels and this needs to be started without delay, progressing into the future until all areas are secure – this advantage must not be squandered.

There can be little doubt that the most expensive areas to raise will be on the east coast and around the harbour areas. However, it should be possible to reduce the cost of this part of the work by reusing all the coping stones that were inexplicably replaced by near-identical stones imported from France during the 1980s when the North Beach was reclaimed. It would not be unreasonable to assume that storage of the originals was an embarrassment to the authorities because they soon reappeared scattered around the island as viewing seats for pedestrians and in at least one instance, to form a car park boundary. The reuse of this material in the harbour area would not only be highly appropriate but, as an instance, be a rapid method of solving the ongoing problem at the Esplanade.

Is this food for thought, or just the idle ramblings of an old man?

BRYAN VANDERTANG,

Ard-na-Mara,

Route de Picquerel.