Guernsey Press

Removal of sea wall not a priority

I WRITE to support and endorse the views expressed by Gary Blanchford in his letter dated 19 November. Gary is to be commended for the spotlight he continues to shine on the Environment & Infrastructure Committee’s misleading and inaccurate version of the facts surrounding their proposals to remove a large portion of L’Ancresse East sea wall.

Published

Gary is correct in challenging E&I’s misleading comments regarding high tide levels in the area, the impact that removal of a large section of sea wall will have on the common, and the cost of the project when compared to the less expensive alternative of rock armour placement.

A fact not covered in his letter, but one that should be concerning all those who love L’Ancresse Bay, will be the ugly impact of rock armour groynes if this project ever goes ahead.

During the two terms I served as a States deputy for the Vale, I spent two years as deputy minister of the Environment Department developing a coastal defence strategy, which resulted in a detailed policy letter being placed before the States in July 2013 which was approved by 44 votes for to one against.

Seven priority areas for coastal defence were identified along the west and east coasts of Guernsey, with St Sampson’s Harbour and Belle Greve Bay being defined as high priority areas.

Over five years has now passed and to date the Environment & Infrastructure Committee have failed to implement even one of the priority action work streams.

It is worth noting that the L’Ancresse sea wall was the lowest ranked area as it was considered to be a low priority maintenance project.

The only thing Environment & Infrastructure have progressed since 2013 is a considerable amount of long overdue sea wall maintenance which was identified as being urgently required when the strategy was debated.

I am hopeful that island-wide voting will produce a States that thinks more broadly and actually deals with important issues.

There is a very real and urgent need for major coastal defence work in six important coastal areas.

Environment & Infrastructure should not be allowed to squander a small fortune on the removal of L’Ancresse East sea wall when rock armour reinforcement would achieve the protection required at far less cost.

This option would also negate the need for ugly groynes on the beach, save the kiosk, retain the coastal path, and protect the common and golf course.

I would also ask the media and prospective States members to dig out the coastal defence strategy document approved by the States of Guernsey in July 2013 and ask the current States why nothing has been done.

TONY SPRUCE

tonyspruce@cwgsy.net