PLANS to stabilise parts of St Catherine’s Breakwater are being progressed by Ports of Jersey in a bid to ensure Islanders can continue to enjoy the “historic” structure.
Surveys of the Grade 1-Listed breakwater – which incorporated drones, ground penetrating radar and multi-channel analysis of surface waves – were conducted by UK-based maritime design specialists AECOM last year following damage caused by storms.
Plans are now being submitted for detailed investigations to establish the work needed to stabilise the slipway to the south, as well as the buttress to the north of the structure – where some of the necessary repairs identified by the surveys were completed in October.
Ande Vibert, Ports of Jersey’s public service obligations manager, said: “Following further surveys and monitoring, the team has determined that intrusive ground investigations, which are only expected to take two weeks, are needed in both the buttress and slipway to better understand their stability and inform the design to reinforce them.”
He added: “We know how well-loved St Catherine’s is for walkers, swimmers, sailors, and ice-cream lovers alike and we are committed to preserving this historic structure so that it can continue to be enjoyed.”
Alison Horton, a committee member at St Catherine’s Sailing Club, added: “I’m delighted that Ports of Jersey is looking to preserve and maintain this historic structure, ensuring that future generations will be able enjoy spending time here, just as much as we do today.”
If planning permission is granted, the work is scheduled to start at the end of October this year.
