When is a wall, not a wall? When it's an "upstand"

Monday 17 October 2022

When Donald Trump ordered a wall to curb the influx of Mexican migrants, he probably had something a little more imposing in mind than the newest addition to Jersey's public infrastructure.

It may well pale into insignificance when compared to Jersey's other coastal defences, or the fortifications left behind following the Occupation...but next week, work will start on a new structure designed to prevent walkers, cyclists or runners from falling onto the beach at La Haule.

Standing 30cm high and 70cm wide, and costing up to £90,000, the mini-granite wall will stretch for more than 200m along promenade to the east of St. Aubin. 

The government says a recent safety audit has led to the plan to build the “upstand,” which will be in keeping with the existing wall, in order to protect islanders from a drop of up to four metres onto the beach, potentially falling onto concrete foundations which can be exposed under the sand. 

It's been built after an islander fell off the wall there in 2019. 

Work starts next week, and will take ten weeks to complete, with the cycle track and walkway being open throughout. The government received planning permission on the 29th June. 

It follows a 2020 Planning Application to put railings along the stretch of promenade instead, but that was turned down because of their impact on views of the bay, and their effect on nearby Grade 2 Listed buildings, such as the nearby Anti Tank Wall (Panzermauer 7) and La Haule slipway.

Pictured: an artist's impression of the new "upstand" (Credit: Infrastucture, Housing and Environment / Antony Gibb Ltd.)

The development will be in the Green Zone, but Infrastructure, Housing and Environment argued in their Planning and Heritage Impact Statement that development may be permitted only where the scale, location and design would not detract from, or unreasonably harm, the character of the area.

The statement concludes that, "...The proposed granite upstand provides a necessary safety improvement for the users of the promenade at La Haule. This contributes to overcoming barriers to cycling in line with the ‘Sustainable Transport’ policy. A low, 300mm high upstand does not significantly affect the character of the area and views over the bay remain uninterrupted. The proposals do not affect the special significance of the listed structures for the reasons set out above. The proposal for a granite upstand addresses the reasons for refusal of the previously submitted planning application for safety railings."

Assistant Minister for Infrastructure, Deputy Steve Ahier, said: “The top of the existing sea wall is currently flush with the promenade paving. This new wall will clearly improve safety for pedestrians and those who cycle along this popular route. 

“The use of Jersey granite, and the relatively low height of the wall means it will be visually non-intrusive and will be very much in keeping with the structures that are already in place further towards the village.” 

(Main Picture Credit: Infrastucture, Housing and Environment / Antony Gibb Ltd.)