ACCESS to the new schools at Les Nicolles should be possible across adjoining land, argue pedestrian safety campaigners and environmentalists. The currently-proposed entrance is on the Baubigny Road side of the property and features a crossing which will take children from the entrance of the Guernsey Water depot opposite to the school driveway.
But Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrians secretary Pat Wisher said she thought the States should also consider green lanes leading to the Guernsey Bowl and the Bukit Estate.
‘We know they’ve investigated the green lanes - some of them cross land which is in private ownership,’ she said.
‘It might be difficult to sort something out, but I think the reason they’ve given up on it is security and safety.
‘The school is being designed on that premise, so there’s one main entrance. But we don’t agree that’s an argument for not doing anything.’
Fellow Steps member and software developer Rob Gregson agreed.
‘The security issue solves itself - there are people along the path,’ he said.
‘Walking along here should be an enjoyable way of going to school.
‘That’s what we want to encourage people to do.’
He said that walking or cycling would also address the issue of childhood obesity and he compared Guernsey with car-free Sark.
‘It would be great if we could have a similar network of paths - get the Sark feeling over here,’ he said. ‘It would be so relaxing.
‘I think the future is modes of transport with less impact on the environment.’
Environmentalist and metal worker Vic Froome, 62, said he thought it was important to have as many options as possible.
‘To create green lanes in the area leading to the school would be dirt cheap compared with how much the school has cost,’ he said.
And Deputy John Gollop said safety wasn’t the only issue.
‘We bought an old greenhouse site at great expense and we built in a green area,’ he said. ‘That’s totally wrong, in ecological terms.
‘We’ve over-built on this side of the island - it should be a green lung here.’
Mr Froome added that the States needed to be frightened into action.
‘With climate change, they might find it hard to get things insured.
‘They’re destroying what we need most. The countryside to the rear of the school is one of Guernsey’s biggest assets.’
Mrs Wisher said many people were unaware of the area’s scenery because they were usually in their car.
Architect and Vale resident Jamie Falla is backing the Steps campaign.
‘I’d like to see that there’s safe access to the school,’ he said.
‘In the future, I’d like my children to go to school either on foot or by bike. But nobody likes change, that’s the problem.
‘The road ‘Baubigny’ should be one-way for health and carbon footprint reasons.
‘It’s got to be looked at as an island issue. You can’t just stop at the school gate.’
Mr Falla said the issue was about forethought, not money.
‘Everybody’s saying it’s somebody else’s department,’ he said.
‘The first one-way system might not work, but the options need to be looked at.
‘Who will take responsibility when the first child gets injured?’
Article posted on 30th June, 2007 - 12.00am
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