Guernsey storm repairs could take six months

Wet weather and staffing problems have been blamed for the backlog since Storm Ciaran

Some contractors say repairs to Guernsey properties damaged by Storm Ciarán might not be completed until at least the summer.

Weather and staffing have been blamed for the backlog after November's storm.

Andy Gavey, managing director of Sarnian Roofing, said his company already had more than six months worth of work scheduled before the storm.

He said it could be the summer before they completed the storm repairs they had been booked to fix.

'Horrible weather'

He said they now had 400 jobs pending in their system, and blamed wet weather and difficulties in finding staff for the backlog.

"When you try to advertise physical labour and it's been going on since mid-October, and it's rained all the time, I think that's why people don't want to get involved in the roofing trade.

Andy Gavey, of Sarnian Roofing, said he already has six months of work scheduled before Storm Ciaran

"It's so wet and horrible," he added.

Steve Sarre, from the Lihou Charitable Trust, said damage to their house had made it impossible to hold its annual fundraising activities.

"I think it's going to be a long time until we're fully recovered and I'm sure it's going to hit our bank balance in the long term, but we will recover."

Steve Sarre said damage to the house on Lihou meant it has lost out on fundraising opportunities

Richard Headington, from Channel Islands Adjusters - a chartered loss adjusting company, said: "The construction industry was under pressure before this event, so obviously it has just added more pressure to them."