Richard Sutton, from Hartigan engineers, made the comments while responding to a concerned Islander who had taken photos of large gaps which appeared at the base of the rock face this month.
In March 2016 Cheval Roc Nursing and Residential Home was forced to close after tonnes of rock and soil fell away from immediately in front of the building and into the bay below.
The facility was eventually given the all clear by engineers, who finished strengthening the area last year, with residents moving back in during November.
Mr Sutton said: ‘During the design period and the works it was noted that the beach levels vary significantly across the year. This is due to changes in current, wind and wave
directions throughout the seasons.
‘Due to this knowledge, gabions [rocks contained within a cage to control erosion] were built on a reinforced concrete beam. This was designed to span between piles [foundations] which have been installed several metres into the rock.
‘This was done as it was not possible to place the concrete beam on the rock across the entire length of the works, due to the changes in the rock profile. It raises and lowers in different locations and because of beach level evolution, at some point it would mean that the beach is lower than the concrete beam.
‘The stabilisation scheme has been considered in great detail, carefully designed and installed. There is no risk of collapse to the slope, risk to the care home at the top of the face or to people on the beach.’
