Costly repairs to the L'Ancresse wall commence

Friday 06 November 2020

Work has begun this week on the most heavily undermined section of the L'Ancresse anti-tank wall, to reduce the risk of immediate failure - however it is already set to cost more than was originally anticipated by political protesters.

The repairs are in line with the requirements of a requete filed by Deputy Al Brouard this year, which aimed to "provide the optimum chance of the wall remaining intact" for at least the next 10 years.

In response to this, the previous Committee for Environment & Infrastructure compiled a detailed plan for the necessary maintenance following engineering studies over the summer.

During debate about the requete, it was made clear that the number of panels which required work had been "miscalculated" by the requerants, and E&I said the costs of the repairs "are considerably in excess of the amount [£200,000 over 10 years]" outlined in the requete. The cost of these repairs has not yet been specified. 

Pictured: the States had agreed to demolish the L'Ancresse sea wall, until Deputy Al Brouard's requete led to its preservation.

"Discussions will therefore continue to take place with the Policy & Resources Committee over how the work can be funded," the committee said. "In the meantime, however, the most urgent works are being funded through the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure’s budget reprioritisation."

A spokesperson for E&I said that the cost of delivering the demands of the requete would likely be around 5 times the initial £200,000 figure. A precise cost could not be given, however, as it is difficult to predict inflation over a 10-year period, as well as the severity of future storms and potential further damage to the wall.

A section of earth bank will be removed this week to allow access for the necessary vehicles and machinery near the Beach House car park. This will be stored and replaced following the completion of the works, with the assistance of Environment Guernsey.

Early next week, concrete will be poured into the voids in panels eight and nine, which have appeared as a result of constant undermining and the fact that the wall itself has no foundations. E&I will also look into the placement of rock armour at these panels, similar to what has been placed at panels four and five.

The work is expected to be completed by the end of next week. While a temporary compound will be erected to provide facilities for the workmen, access to the road and car park will be maintained.