Dangerous L’Ancresse wall ‘needs fixing now’
Tuesday 17th February 2009, 2:30PM GMT.
THE sea wall at L’Ancresse was yesterday branded dangerous.
Vale deputy Tony Spruce (pictured) said the deteriorating coastal defence now posed a hazard to beach users.
A recent presentation to States members of Environment’s priorities for the next four years had not included L’Ancresse’s sea defences, he said.
‘I would urge the department to reconsider its priorities,’ he said. ‘One of the island’s very best beaches will shortly be strewn with concrete and reinforcing steel pieces, creating a danger and limiting the use of this beautiful beach.’
In 2007 the Guernsey Coastal Defence Strategy report, carried out by global consultants Royal Haskoning, said that as no properties were threatened, one option was to let nature take over and allow a natural sea defence to form.
Deputy Spruce said that was not an option because the holes in the sea defence were now so large that there was a risk people could fall into them.
A spokesman for the Environment Department denied that the wall was dangerous and said it was inspected regularly.
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Royal Haskoning, said that as no properties were threatened, one option was to let nature take over and allow a natural sea defence to form.
And what about the eighteen hole golf course? This surely has to be protected no matter what the cost. It is a major attraction that people travel to from far and wide and also one of the incentives for attracting high calibre staff for the finance sector.
Surely this has to go to the top of the priority list. We must have proper coastal defences.
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Steven: a golf course is ultimately just grass with a hole in. What about the kiosks, cafe, and the Pembroke holiday homes? Surely these are more important then a golf course, which yes is a very large visitor attraction, but not someones home.
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GSYGal: You also forgot the Guernsey heritage – i.e. martello towers and dolmens which litter that same golf course. Don’t get me wrong, not particularly bothered about the course itself, and I do agree that we need to get everything protected properly.
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I disagree about the L’Ancresse golf course being a major attraction. It is a facility that the minority of the population can use and while it is freely open to the public to walk on it is not safe to do so. It is a win-win situation for the local golfers (albeit at a membership price and once you’ve been on the waiting list for many years).
It is the historical features that should be given priority. That’s what gives our coastline some unique character – not a golf course. “…travel to from far and wide…” – it’s not St. Andrew’s!
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Why is Tony Spruce sitting under a wall in such a parlous state. Blooming irresponsible I say!! Think of the Chilldren! Resign!!
:)
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There is some confusion here.
The wall itself is going nowhere and is safe. So the dunes and golf course will be protected without further action (other than normal maintenance) for many decades.
The “skirt” to the wall, on the beach, has no foundation and slips toward the sea every year leaving a gap – into which children might fall – that has traditionally been filled every year with concrete.
Just keep up the regular work.
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Well said Dick. I have to shake my head at Steven’s comment – oh the drama of it. That wall isn’t going anywhere fast. Before it was there the common was protected for about 15000 years by sand dunes.
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Sorry about that. One of the downsides at being so proficient at sarcasm is that one tends to be taken seriously. lol
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