Latest news with #CastleCornet
BBC News
23-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Guernsey deputies use wheelchairs as part of accessibility event
A deputy who took part in an interactive accessibility event in Guernsey said the session offered a "massive insight" into the lives of wheelchair Aindre Reece-Sheerin, access consultant and rights campaigner, invited deputies and civil servants to use wheelchairs and wear blindfolds to navigate around the Model Yacht Pond and Castle Cornet on Wednesday Tina Bury, who used a wheelchair as part of the session, said: "It just gave me a massive insight that you just don't have as an able-bodied person." Mr Reece-Sheerin said he hoped the session would "sow a tiny little seed" and bring home how improving accessibility would change lives. He said "Every time somebody talks about a policy, a practice or a procedure, a light will go on and they'll say... 'where does this policy, practice or procedure sit within the new disability ordinance?'."Bury, president of the Committee for Employment and Social Security, said the challenge highlighted how each "tiny dip and incline" became a "massive" hurdle while using a wheelchair."This has been really valuable to everyone," she Gary Collins, vice-president of the Transport Licensing Authority, wore a blindfold and used a cane as part of the event. He said: "You felt totally out of your comfort zone."Being totally blind was a very new experience and a real challenge."Things like this highlight what we need to do, we know we've got an ordinance in place about accessibility for certain things."He said the experience would "remain with him" and added "it's something to really take forward". Deputy Adrian Gabriel, president of the Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure, said the experience was "hard physically" and "you don't appreciate what your legs do"."You take them away and you appreciate how everything else works harder," he added."My arms are buzzing from getting up and down ramps over uneven surfaces."The deputy said some disabled people were unable to visit Castle Cornet due to accessibility, which he said was a "real sad state of affairs I'm afraid".Gabriel said measures needed to be put in place in order to make sure it was "accessible to all". 'Real, everyday problems' Chantelle Tucker, vision support services officer at Guernsey Blind Association (GBA), said: "It was an eye-opener for them to see the difficulties that people locally faced on a day-to-day basis."It was a really positive experience."A lot of them [deputies] made comments about their depth perception, about the distance, disorientation and it's trying to explain that these are the difficulties and challenges that people face on a day-to-day basis."These are real everyday problems that most people face."
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Essential Guernsey Castle Cornet breakwater work begins
Essential restructuring work will take place at Castle Cornet Ports said masonry repointing was needed on sections of the breakwater which were highlighted during a routine inspection. It said there would still be access to the Castle and the approach bridge but between 06:00 and 18:00 BST there would be barriers at the breakwater to prevent public Armstrong, Guernsey Ports project manager, said the repointing would address "minor damage" sustained over the winter to prevent more serious structural issues. He said: "The Castle breakwater's main purpose is to provide safe waters and sheltered areas within St Peter Port Harbour, which it has been doing since the 1850s."The work is scheduled during the summer to take advantage of the favourable weather and sea conditions, which keeps the project costs down and allows the work to be completed ahead of any winter storms."Mr Armstrong added: "It is important that people respect the barriers that will be in place during the day, as they are necessary for public safety and the safety of our contractors."Work will take place until Friday, 1 August, Guernsey Ports said.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Guernsey Museums marking King's birthday with free entry
Guernsey Museums will be allowing free entry for visitors as part of plans to mark King Charles III's 2025 official birthday. On 14 June, Castle Cornet will mark the birthday with the annual 21-gun salute performed by a volunteer gun crew at 12:00 BST. Guernsey Museum at Candie and Castle Cornet would both be open from 10:00 BST to 17:00 to visitors, managers Grey would be open from 10:30 to 16:30, while the German Naval Signals HQ would be open from 10:30 to 15:00, they added. Head of heritage services Helen Glencross said: "We encourage locals and visitors to take advantage of free entry this Saturday, and come and learn more about our museums."The King has two birthdays. He was actually born on 14 November 1948, but his official royal celebration is Trooping the Colour, which falls on the second Saturday of has been the official birthday of the reigning British monarch for more than 260 years.
