Complete review of Fermain options underway

Wednesday 28 April 2021

An investigation of the Fermain seawall has been successfully put out to tender and work is now underway to review options for re-profiling the cliff and repairing the wall.

The Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure has announced the next steps towards fixing the wall, seven years after part of it collapsed in 2014.

The historic Fermain Bay wall has a large hole in it, leading to the cliff behind it to erode slowly and retreat towards the coastal cliff path. The States of Guernsey put consultancy work out to tender in January this year. The work has gone to a local civil and structural engineering consultant, which has not been named. 

Pictured: The successful tender by the Coastal Infrastructure follows two failed attempts to get a consultant in to assess the damage.

The current E&I Committee highlighted the “frustratingly slow” progress made so far in undertaking work to fix the wall. 

“Work to stabilise the cliff and repair the damaged wall has been frustratingly slow to progress because it cannot be categorised as a true sea defence,” said a spokesperson.

“Sea walls that protect key infrastructure such as roads, cables, sewers, businesses and homes have to be prioritised, so our eastern seaboard and west coast are usually the highest priorities.”

Now the Coastal Infrastructure Team has appointed its consultant, work has begun to develop a recommendation for a way forward. 

The assessment, once complete, will lead into further investigatory works and eventually a full detailed design. This design will then require a further tender for the work.