Thursday 28 August 2014
Guernsey Press Enquiry:
I am working on a follow-up story to an article we did last year about calls for lifeguard patrols on Guernsey's main beaches. Will the department be reviewing this issue again?
Environment Department Response:
The introduction of lifeguarding at beaches would constitute a new service development and given the budget constraints a new service of this nature would, of necessity, require other services to be cut. As such it cannot be a priority for the States in the current financial climate and there are no plans to review the use of lifeguards at present.
There are a considerable number of beaches regularly used for swimming and other water sports such as kayaking or windsurfing. The justification of the provision of life guard cover at a small proportion of the Island's beaches would be very difficult in trying to balance an argument of, say, lifeguard cover for beach users at Vazon over Pembroke/L'Ancresse or Petit Bot.
A life guarding service generally operates within fixed hours during the day between May and September. Sea swimming and other water sports take place year round all around the coast, often outside 'normal hours' and a life guarding service can give a false sense of security, particularly for parents of children.
It is far more important that people have the ability to assess the sea conditions for safe swimming according to tide, wind and weather conditions at the time. A parent with children can then make sensible decisions as to whether to allow them to swim or take part in water sports whether they are on Fermain or Cobo. The Education Department's sea swimming courses will be a significant factor in helping to increase awareness amongst children and hopefully their parents. The scheme will benefit not just this generation but the next.
Contact Information:
Environmental Services Unit
Environment Department
Tel: 717200
