Prisoners refurbish Jersey harbour benches

Anne Pryke thanked the prison service for refurbishing the bench and replacing the plaque for her husband Roger

Benches across Jersey's harbours are being refurbished by prisoners.

Ports of Jersey is working with the States of Jersey Prison Service on the first phase of the project which will see work on 80-100 benches around the island's harbours restored.

They said it would cost £7,500 for materials and paying the prisoners at HMP La Moye, and if it proved a success a rolling plan of works for all 160 of the harbour's benches could begin.

Historic harbours manager Mark Byrne said it used to take the team a week or more to restore a bench and so he asked the prison service whether it could help.

Mr Gould said the restoration project encouraged prisoners to feel compassion for what the memorial benches meant to others

Mr Byrne said: "It takes a week to ten days to refurbish each bench which is slower than we would like, so we approached the prison service to see if this project would interest them as part of their rehabilitation work with prisoners.

"They were really interested, and we took it from there."

Mr Byrne said he buys supplies for the prisoners to use and moves the benches to and from HMP La Moye Prison.

The inmates then fix legs, clean stainless steel, paint cast iron sections and polish the memorial plaques.

'So very pleased'

The prison's manager of vocational training Peter Gould said: "The project provides purposeful activity for prisoners, encouraging great teamwork, determination in their work and compassion for what these benches mean to others."

Anne Pryke said she is pleased with the refurbishment of a bench placed at Rozel Harbour in memory of her husband, Roger.

She told Mr Gould: "Thank you so much for sorting out the bench, it is amazing and such a great asset.

"I'm so very pleased."