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When Islanders take a walk on St Brelade’s Bay or cycle up the Avenue, few will stop to think about the hidden work taking place beneath their feet. But for Thomas Le Sech, protecting Jersey’s coastline is all in a day’s work.
Tom is an operative for the Coastal Maintenance Team in the Infrastructure and Environment (I&E) Department, and part of a team keeping the Island running every single day.
“Our job is to make sure the coastline is protected. Any repairs, reinforcement or renewal work – we’re the ones who make sure it stays safe for the public.”
Protecting the public from what they can’t see
When I met Tom at St Brelade’s Bay, he and the team were spending the day resurfacing the promenade near Pizza Express.
“There have been a few reports of people tripping along here, so our job is to re-level it, resurface it, and get rid of any trip hazards.”
But some of the most important work done by the team is the sort that most of us don’t notice, unless something goes wrong.
Tom adds: “Around the Island we’ve got big sea walls, but sometimes the sea washes out material from underneath – that’s undermining. A lot of what we do is installing concrete toes to stop that happening and keep the walls strong.”
Preventative work like this is what keeps Jersey’s coastline resilient, particularly during winter storms.
Farm life to finance to coastal engineering
New to I&E and coastal maintenance, Tom explains how he grew up on a farm and later went into finance before deciding he wanted a more hands-on career.
“I’ve been in this role about nine months now, and I absolutely love it. The team’s brilliant — everyone helps each other out, and it’s just a really good vibe.”
When asked about the most difficult part of the role, he laughs: “Honestly? The weather!”
But sometimes the challenge comes from explaining the purpose of works to the public, who may not see the same risks.
“We often get people saying, ‘That doesn’t need doing!’ so it’s about diffusing the situation and explaining why we’re here. We’re never doing work for the sake of it.”
Despite this, Tom finds pride in every project, big or small: “It could be something as simple as repairing a set of railings, or as big as rebuilding part of a seawall so it’s safer and more secure.”
Engineering around Jersey
The Coastal and Civils teams work closely across major projects, from repairing sea defences to installing safer routes for school children.
“The Civils Maintenance Team look after a lot of the work in Town – roads, kerbs, public realm improvements, that sort of thing.”
On the Safer Routes to School initiative near Jersey College for Girls, Tom says: “The Civils team delivered that project, and we managed to get it completed within two weeks of the programme. It was a real push, but we got it done.”
Whether it’s storm damage or unseen foundations beneath the sea walls, Tom and his colleagues take pride not only in the work itself, but in the way it looks.
“It’s not just about fixing things – it’s about making them look good too. We always try to do the best job we can, so the public are happy with the result.”
For someone who thrives outdoors and enjoys practical work, coastal maintenance seems like the perfect role, one that keeps Jersey’s coastline, and its Islanders, safe.
Tom is just one example of I&E’s dedicated teams Keeping the Island Running every day.