Guernsey businesses brave access issues

A Mill Street shop owner tells Island FM that the water main work has been disruptive, but appreciates it is necessary.

During 2026, Guernsey Water plans to spend £7.8m on maintaining and upgrading the island’s water and wastewater networks.

It began on 2 January in Mill Street.

The area was prioritised after two pipe bursts in 2025, which resulted in one business flooding.

More than 100 metres of 80-year-old cast-iron pipes have now been replaced with a more durable plastic main.

Capital Delivery Manager Carl Falla says they timed the work to reduce disruption.

“This is a major piece of work that will futureproof the main in that area until nearly the turn of the next century.

"We know this is disruptive work, and that’s why we chose January to start the work to allow the Christmas trading season to happen for the local businesses.

"We hand-delivered letters to all of them and have kept access to businesses open throughout.

“Despite some extremely heavy rainfall during the works, teams have managed 10 metres of replacement a week.

"We’re using local two local contractors, Geomarine for the digging and replacement, and Tarmac Services for the reinstatement.

"By using local contractors wherever possible we keep skills and money in our economy."

The team are clean and re-laying the paving stones, which is described as "a time-consuming process". Only once this is complete will the road reopen to pedestrians.

Gemini Clement runs the clothes shop Nautilus on Mill Street.

She says, despite some disruption, local businesses appreciate the timing.

"When it was right outside the shop, it wasn't much fun.

"It's very noisy, and it was blocked off.

"But if they need to do work, we understand, and that's fine, and they've done a great job.

"It's just the nature of being in town. Sometimes the roads need to be dug up, sometimes things need to happen.

"You know if it happened on the run-up to Christmas or the middle of the summer, we would have been pretty upset.

"So time-wise it sort of didn't really matter because our customers, they'll go through wind, rain and snow to get to us anyway.

"The signage was very confusing, that was the only kind of issue we had, it was diverting people around, but when they went around, it was closed at the other end, so actually, it was open from the bottom right from the start for pedestrians, so like redirecting pedestrians didn't make sense."

@islandfm A Mill Street shop owner tells Island FM that the water main work has been disruptive, but appreciates it is necessary. ⛔️ Read the full story on our website - link in the bio #guernsey #channelislands #roadworks ♬ original sound - Island FM