Jersey War Tunnels submits plans for remedial work

Jersey War Tunnels (JWT) has applied for permission to carry out reinforcement work to preserve critical parts of its structure.

The tunnels in St Lawrence were built by slave and forced labour during the German occupation of the Channel Islands in World War Two.

JWT has submitted a planning application to complete "various internal remedial works" as some of the materials used to build the Grade II listed site have deteriorated.

The proposal seeks to carry out structural repairs to four areas of the tourist attraction, the boiler room, the shower room, the rockfall area, and the doorway to the unfinished tunnel.

JWT has asked permission to install a damp proof membrane in the shower block and raised concerns about corrosion in the beams that hold up the boiler room roof.

Recommendations include supporting the area with five new steel beams, although it would result in obscuring some of the ceiling.

The request also asks permission for "replacement lintels, shoring of openings and replacement of rockfall protection screens".

In the JWT's heritage impact statement it acknowledged some elements of the historic site were beyond repair.

It said: "These proposals are ultimately structural conservation exercises to support the historic structure's survival in the medium-to-long term, in line with good conservation practice."

It added the positive impact of the proposals outweighed harm, and impacts would be limited.

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