This Is Guernsey

By Simon Tostevin

Waves pound the coastal defences during Monday’s storms.

ENVIRONMENT minister David De Lisle said yesterday he would do all he could to protect coastal defences, but admits financial restraints might hamper his aim.

A consultant’s report debated by the States last month recommended the department investigates abandoning the sea wall at L’Ancresse.

But Deputy De Lisle said yesterday that he would do his utmost to protect that one as well as others. The storms have only highlighted their importance, he said.

‘I’m all for defending what we have got, but we really need to look at resources and whether or not we have the appropriate ones for strengthening our sea defences in the future.

‘The report indicated that maintenance will be required, but that there are certain areas where we really have to pinpoint our resources and look after very carefully.

‘One of those areas is L’Eree, where we have a sea wall protecting £23m.-worth of property.

‘Many households are under threat if that wall is more seriously breached.

‘It’s already been seriously hit and destabilised as a result of this particular storm.

‘Our consultants are talking about providing an apron at the bottom of the wall to stop further undercutting and also overtopping with sea level rises.’

He said estimates for the work on 400 yards of sea wall from Rocque Poisson to where the wall was breached would cost between £2m. and £4m. in the next 15 years.

Although keen to do the work, Deputy De Lisle said the report also identified other areas such as L’Ancresse, Town and the pebble bank at L’Eree.

He said engineers had been at the Rocquaine coast road and the damage was more severe than met the eye.