Fancy a walk? Eroded St Saviour footpath rejuvenated

Tuesday 06 August 2024

Islanders are once again able to enjoy strolls or walk their dogs along a popular St Saviour footpath that was out of use due to erosion and storm damage after it was reopened yesterday thanks to a regeneration project.

St Saviour Constable Kevin Lewis cut the ribbon at Le Val Aumé (known as Swiss Valley) yesterday.

The eroded 450-metre path, which connects Les Varines to La Freminerie, was made usable again thanks to the help of a £40,000 post-covid government boost, as well as parish funding.

Pictured: The path was reopened yesterday (Monday 5 August).

"[The Countryside Access and Wellbeing Project] grant provided partial funding for the much-needed rejuvenation of the footpath," the parish had explained in a statement supporting the planning application.

"To match this grant, the Parish committed its own resources."

Pictured: The path's rejuvenation was made possible by post-covid government and parish funding.

They added that the erosion was due to water run-off – the path crosses a stream – and that they had received the grant in part because they committed to using the parish's own workforce to rebuild the path.

Resolving the issue was fraught with challenges – among them, Storm Ciarán, which caused significant damage.

In addition to the weather-related challenges, the parish said it had to work "diligently to resolve disputes surrounding property boundaries and tree ownership with the landowners in the vicinity".