Tuesday 11 February 2014
Environment Department response to media enquiry from Guernsey Press
Guernsey Press enquiry:
I am putting together a further follow-up about all the work going on following the storms in recent days.
Would it be possible to get a comment from Environment to the following questions:
I believe work has started today on removing shingle from behind the sea wall at Croix Martin, St Saviour's and moved to the L'Eree shingle bank.
Can the department just explain why this work is important? Does it hope the process will be complete by the end of today?
Once the job is complete does it expect to carry out any more work on the areas?
Secondly, I am aware several trees fell down over the weekend in Saumarez Park.
Is the department aware of this? If so, does it know how many trees? When work the trees be removed? Will any more trees have to be planted to replace those that have fallen?
A reader also sent us in a picture of Fermain Bay over the weekend that shows another landslip has formed further south of the bay.
Is the department aware of this? If so, has any investigation been undertaken? Has any of the cliff paths been cordoned off? What is the next course of action to address this landslip?
It seems Grandes Rocques has also taken a battering and I understand an old slipway has been exposed.
Again is this something the department is aware of? If so, can it give any further details.
Environment Department response:
Croix Martin - The Environment Department has arranged to remove a quantity of shingle from behind the sea wall at Croix Martin, the work will be completed during Monday 10th February. This will be taken to the L'Eree shingle bank immediately to the south west where it will be used to augment the stone there. This will replenish the shingle lost during the two recent breaches. Care will be taken that sufficient shingle is left in place to ensure that the base of the sea wall at Croix Martin is well protected.
The removal of some of the shingle behind the Croix Martin sea wall should also reduce the quantity of pebble spilling on to the road during the next high spring tides in early March.
Saumarez Park - Environment Department staff inspected the damage to two Turkey oaks at the weekend. The tree surgeon will be working on these two trees today (Monday). The very wet and waterlogged soil conditions in combination with stormy conditions have resulted in a loss of several trees across the Island. Where soil conditions remain waterlogged there is an ongoing risk of more trees coming down. Trees are very adaptable and can, in general, cope with short periods of waterlogged roots. However prolonged water logging may lead to an increase in levels of root disease which may impact on the health of trees in the longer term.
Fermain - Engineers from States Property Services inspected Fermain this morning and there were no land slips other than those already noted. Stone masons are working there today on repairs to a small section of undermined wall to the south of the main area of damaged wall. The beach remains closed to the public as a precautionary measure.
Grandes Rocques - The dunes have been cut back sharply by the recent high tides and strong winds. The dunes will gradually re-accrete when the combination of wind and drier weather allows the sand to dry out between tides. In the meantime the Department would ask the public to keep to the footpath and not walk through the dunes to avoid further damage which would prolong the recovery process.
It is not unusual for the remains of the old granite slipway to be exposed; it has been several times in the last few years after high tides.
Contact Information:
Environmental Services Unit
Environment Department
Tel: 01481 717 200
