‘This is not just an aesthetic issue but a health and safety one, too’

Futher to my letter to the Guernsey Press concerning the appalling state of benches on the cliff paths in St Martin’s and St Peter Port and the response from a spokesman for Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services (part of the Environment & Infrastructure Committee), I have the following questions and comments for him.

The spokesman said the department was ‘working hard’ to keep in good condition more than 500 benches for which it has responsibility. He said that naturally over time these benches require attention, are assessed each year to identify which ones require maintenance, and that reports from the public about their condition were welcome. I am delighted to hear that they are ‘working hard’. With respect, I suggest that maybe they are not working hard enough, if the current state of the broken and unusable benches is the result of their efforts and the process of identifying which ones require maintenance has failed as there are so many benches in urgent need of repair.

This is not just an aesthetic issue but a health and safety one, too. It is more than possible that someone could sustain a serious injury if they tried to sit on one of the neglected benches. The benches I have identified were in this sorry state in the winter, so according to the spokesman’s response they should have been attended to ready for the spring.

I had hoped for a rather more proactive response from the department, letting the public know when the benches will be repaired. To leave them in their current state, awaiting an inspection in the winter, which may or may not result in them being repaired, is unacceptable. Could the spokesman for the department kindly let us know a definite programme to attend to this important matter so that locals and visitors can enjoy the benches and beautiful cliff paths without fear of a serious accident and a possible legal action against the States of Guernsey for any injuries incurred?

I look forward to the spokesman’s response.

Dee Dee Morgan

Jim Robinson, director – natural environment, replies:

I appreciate the opportunity to respond and thank your reader for raising this matter. The enjoyment and safety of those using our coastal paths is a priority for Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services (ACLMS), and we remain committed to maintaining the infrastructure that supports this.

In recent weeks, I’ve met with the prison governor to explore how we can expand our partnership to support bench maintenance across the island.

I’ve also met with the constables of St Martin’s to discuss a prioritised plan for repairs, ensuring that benches in poor condition are addressed as swiftly as possible through our existing, annual programme of repairs which has now started.

We welcome reports from the public, which help us respond more quickly to issues.

If anyone notes something of concern in the areas we manage, we encourage them to email us at aclms@gov.gg with the location and, if possible, a photo.

As with many public services, our resources are finite, and we must prioritise maintenance activities within the resources available. Despite these constraints, we continue to work with contractors and community partners to ensure that the areas we manage and the coastal paths remain a source of pride and enjoyment for all.

We remain committed to ensuring that our coastal paths and their features are maintained to a high standard, and we thank the public for their continued support and engagement.