Sea defences to be assessed for repair works

Guernsey's sea defences will be assessed before funds to maintain them are allocated

Guernsey's sea defences will be inspected across the island as part of plans to allocate a budget for repairs.

The States said the condition of coastal structures, including concrete defence walls, steel pilings and slipways, would be assessed from next week.

It said core samples of concrete would be taken to determine whether there were any voids, while the thickness of existing steel sheet piles will also be assessed.

Coastal defences offer protection to land infrastructure from sea flooding, such as roads, utilities and property.

'Proactive works'

Marco Tersigni, infrastructure officer, said the work was vital to enable the appropriate allocation of funds.

"As part of our proactive works to support, preserve and maintain our coastal infrastructure, it's important to make sure that we are planning our works based on up to date condition reports of our coastal defences and features," he said.

"With budgets necessarily constrained and expenditure needing to be targeted carefully, it's important to carry out thorough investigations to understand exactly what remedial works might be necessary in the near future or in the longer-term."

The site investigations begin at Imperial slipway on 18 November, concluding at Pembroke around Christmas, the States said.

Plans for improved flood defences in Guernsey were said to be an "immediate priority" for the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure.