Plan to fill gap in north-coast cliff path

Friday 21 July 2023

A break in the northern cliff path – which means walkers currently have to follow Route du Nord for almost a mile - will be partly filled by a new section of track, if Planning approves.

Currently, walkers have to follow the roadside pavement along Route du Nord between Sorel Point and La Saline Quarry.

While Ronez Quarry and its approved extension to the west makes following some of the road inevitable, a majority of the gap will be filled in with a new path, if approval is granted.

The application from the Infrastructure and Environment Department proposes creating a new 2-3m-wide multi-user path in front of the Ronez offices and depot, and then a new 1-2m-wide footpath between the loop-road access road and close to the La Saline Quarry entrance. 

It will follow the contours of the headland, looping behind the Horsebox car park.

The application states: “This proposes expanding the north-coast footpath into an area of publicly owned land found between Le Perruque and Ronez Quarry. Currently, this area is a section of headland made up of mixed woodland and bracken-covered slopes and where no coastal path exists.

“Traffic along Route du Nord can be heavy at times, with traffic from the quarry, and [this] proposal will allow users the chance to leave the roadside.”

Pictured: If approved, the new section will be between Sorel and La Saline Quarry, north of Route du Nord. (Google Maps)

Most of the extension will be paid using money from a Government 'Covid Access and Wellbeing Fund' which is designed to improve, among other things, access to the countryside.

The Environment Department made a bid for money and was awarded £54,310 from this fund. Total budget approved to complete all reports and create the footpath is £68,708.

Following a tender process, a local contractor has been appointed to undertake the works later this year, if planning permission is given.

This is not the first footpath project to receive covid recovery funding. Earlier this year, St. Peter was given £14,425 to upgrade a path between Wheatlands and Sandybrook.