Guernsey’s coastal infrastructure works to take place south of town this year

A series of works to maintain, preserve and improve the coastal infrastructure and facilities in the Havelet area is taking place over the coming months. The works relate to a number of different projects, but all will contribute to ensuring the sea defences, bathing pools and other facilities are maintained to a high standard and preserved for the use of Islanders in the years ahead.

Maintenance and repair of the Havelet seawall will be begin from next week as part of the Energy & Coastal Infrastructure Team’s ongoing seawall maintenance programme. For this, the contractor has taken the decision to split works into two sections during 2021 and limit them to outside of peak season in order to reduce their impact on visitors to the bay and businesses in the vicinity. The first section will be the northern end of the seawall, works will then cease over the summer season and resume in the Autumn whereby works on the
southern end will be undertaken.

During the second section of works, the slipway and the adjacent parking will need to be obstructed. The works taking place on the wall this year will address the most urgent areas for maintenance ahead of the winter. The remaining areas will be completed the following year.

Works are also planned to be undertaken on the Ladies’ and Children’s bathing pools from June – November. The works will refresh the entire pool surround (the concrete areas) as well as undertake essential maintenance to the pools themselves, including underpinning sections of erosion and restoring masonry to reduce leakage. This is work that the States agreed it would carry out as part of its agreement with Vive La Vallette, who this summer are also progressing with the redevelopment of the Bathing Pool kiosk and changing facilities into a new café and community hub which will cater for a range of activities (more information can be found here.

As a reminder, Vive La Vallette will provide…

• • There will be a new café, open all year round.
  • The changing rooms will be enhanced and the bathing pools will continue to be free to all.
  • The project has planning permission and discussions with a local building firm are ongoing.
  • The site is likely to be developed in phases and it is hoped to complete the café and changing rooms by spring 2022. During the redevelopment work, facilities for swimmers to change and warm up will be maintained.
  • In addition to swimming, there will be a range of activities and opportunities for arts, sports, music and culture.

It is appreciated that having these works take place during the summer when there are increased numbers of pool users may cause an inconvenience, but these works are essential for ensuring that the pools remain safe and functional for users. It would also not be possible to carry out these works during quieter seasons because of adverse weather conditions. For example, the very high ‘equinox’ tides in the autumn are often accompanied
by storms which could pose significant issues due to the nature of the works.

The Coastal Infrastructure Team is aware that the bathing pools offer a popular recreational activity to Islanders and seek to minimise disruption to pool use during the course of these works. Every effort will be made to programme the works so that closures of both the Ladies’ and the Children’s pool at the same time is avoided. However, there may be days where neither pool can be used depending on weather and tidal elements. The slipway and some parking spaces may also need to be occupied in order to allow for contractor access, machinery and storage. The Gents’ pool will remain in use throughout.

Peter Barnes of the Coastal Infrastructure Team said: “We appreciate the disruption maintenance works like these can cause at sites as popular as Havelet, however it is important we undertake these proactive maintenance works to reduce the risk of significant damage. It is important to maintain these sea defences, and repair the pools, in order to provide a safe and enjoyable experience around the island’s coastline.”