Le Grand Bouet to close again...

Thursday 29 August 2019

Le Grand Bouet will be closed once again, for five weeks this time, while Guernsey Water carries out the final phase of its works on the sewer.

The road was closed for three weeks earlier in the summer, which had a detrimental impact on a local business owner.

Michelle Botes owns Creature Comforts in Le Grand Bouet, and is expecting another drop in customers while the road is closed.

"The last time we were closed was quite tough because you've still got rent to pay, you've still got wages to pay, you've still got to have the same amount of products even if there's not the same amount of money coming in," she said.

"The problem is not necessarily access because the access last time was amazing - Guernsey Water had signs everywhere. It's more the fact that it's so busy on the surrounding roads that you get stuck in traffic. For us to get from here [Creature Comforts] to the seafront when it was closed last time took us 22 minutes, so if people can avoid, they are going to avoid."

Pictured: Creature Comforts.

The business is even putting a new scheme in place to encourage customers to take a slightly longer journey and visit the shop.

"At the moment we give a five percent loyalty discount as cash, but we're changing to a points system, like a Boots card. Through the whole of September, we are going to double our loyalty discount to ten percent to try and keep people interested."

Creature Comforts has already had to make some staffing cuts due to roadwork losses over the past two years, and is hoping the road will soon be completed.

"We're working so hard and in-between roadworks business is great, but you just catch up with yourself and they close the road again," added Ms Botes. "We're going to be struggling now for five weeks. You just feel like you're working for nothing. I'm lucky that we all love our job, because if we didn't I would have closed for sure.

"On the letter they sent to me it says 'please note it is likely a further short closure of the road will be required at least six months after the works are completed. These works are expected to take two to three days', so I'm already thinking 'here we go again'. It's only two to three days but that could be my rent paid for the week."

Pictured: Le Grand Bouet.

The works follow on from an investigation last year, which confirmed the 780mm diameter sewer in the road was in poor condition.

"The lining works will be carried out in three sections, each measuring a length of 100-150m," said Guernsey Water's Capital Delivery Manager, Mark Walker. "Each section will need to be cleaned before the connections are checked by a robotic unit, the liner inserted, cured in place and finally the original connections are recut by the same robotic unit."

The closure coincides with a temporary one-way system on private road Elizabeth Avenue for the demolition of Sydney Vane House. It is thought this could cause further disruption.

"As a combine sewer, taking both stage and storm water flows, the lining work requires dry conditions in order to proceed," added Mr Walker. "This, together with the advanced booking of equipment and contractors, has resulted in the closure being scheduled to take place in the drier months."

Le Grand Bouet will close on Tuesday 3 September.