"Dangerously unstable" path cuts off Divette Bay

Tuesday 11 May 2021

Divette can no longer be reached by land following the closure of its only access path - with the States warning there is a "high risk of severe injury or death" if people attempt to cross it.

Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services has closed the path offering access to the bay as it’s dangerously unstable and the risk to the public has “grown too severe”.

ACLMS states that only competent swimmers now have access to Divette and there are no plans to develop new access. 

“There is no easy answer to fixing the path as the soft slope of the cliff is persistently eroding,” said a spokesperson.

“ACLMS is committed to prioritising the maintenance and repair of the coastline wherever possible, but unfortunately in some cases the forces of nature cannot be contended with."

Due to natural and unavoidable erosion of the soft cliff, the path previously providing access to Divette is dangerously unstable. The risk has grown too severe and so Islanders are urged to take this warning seriously and no longer use the path. More at: https://t.co/1dqaKrq78C pic.twitter.com/G1Dr8nVNLg

— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) May 10, 2021

Pictured: There are no practical or economically viable ways of fixing the path, according to ACLMS. 

The path down to Divette runs below a past landslip and the risk of a significant landslide is considered to be very high.

“Should a landslip or accident occur while someone was using the patch, the risk of severe injury or death would be high,” said a spokesperson. “Due to the remoteness of this area it could also be many hours or days until that person is located and rescued."

A new, sturdier barrier has been put up to stop people using the path, following past attempts of cordoning off the steps being torn down or jumped over.