Work To Commence On Clarence Battery Steps

Extensive works to stabilise the rock face below the Cow's Horn will begin at the end of February.

The steps by La Vallette Bathing Pools have been closed since March 2020 when a landslide was caused by heavy rain.

Four years later, islanders will once again be able to access the Cow's Horn and cliff paths from the La Vallette side.

Work will be completed in phases, starting with securing the rock face, then the lower slope, putting in new steps, and finally securing the upper slopes.

The steps are not expected to reopen until the end of the summer due to the complexity of the project.

Marco Tersigni, who's an Infrastructure Officer with the States, explains why the work is being completed at the height of season:

"Inevitably there will be some disruption to parking arrangements whilst these improvements take place, but we've tried to go out of our way with those who use the area to try to limit disruption.

As far as possible, we've reduced the size of the contractor's compound so that we can retain as many parking spaces as possible.

While we would have wanted to complete the works during the winter months to avoid these works being carried out during Guernsey's busiest months for tourists, we have been advised that, for health and safety reasons, the work should be undertaken in the drier months.

We are grateful that this work has the support of Vive La Vallette and other local groups, and we'd like to thank everyone in advance for their patience while these improvements are carried out."

The turning circle and part of the road nearest the steps will be closed to allow the work to be completed.

Parking in most of the diagonal spaces by the Bathing Pools will also be lost during the work. To accommodate this, 10-hour spaces between the Ladies' Pool and the Horseshoe will be reduced to two-hours.