PEOPLE living near the Guernsey Coal yard will not be happy with the plans for redevelopment unless the gate to Les Monmains Road is shut. But despite their concerns about traffic flow, all those who attended a public meeting with Guernsey Coal managing director David Meeks yesterday fully backed the company’s plans to redevelop the site.
Mr Meeks had arranged it to discuss the planned changes that could potentially see small businesses from Leale’s Yard relocate to Guernsey Coal’s 2.6-acre yard.
The plans the company submitted to the Environment Department in February show Les Monmains as the main entrance for lorries accessing the yard.
This plan was widely condemned by residents who felt the entrance on the narrow road should be closed because of their concerns that it is dangerous to have large lorries entering and exiting.
Mr Meeks then submitted to the residents an alternative plan which had been drawn up by the company’s architect the day before the public meeting.
The alternative cuts off a corner of the largest block to enable a through route from La Hure Mare Road entrance to Les Monmains gate.
‘We can minimise the traffic flow,’ said Mr Meeks. ‘My gut feeling is that we would not be able to cope with closing the Les Monmains gate but we can more than halve the present traffic flow.’
The alternative plan received a much warmer reception from the residents.
However, it still needs to be discussed by Guernsey Coal before the company decides whether to submit the new plans to Environment to replace the original ones.
Mr Meeks said it was a case of trying to find a balance between what is commercially right for the business and allaying the concerns of neighbouring residents.
‘We think that a compromise is to have a one-way system at the Les Monmains road entrance,’ he said.
‘I think that once it is implemented, it will improve the traffic flow and alleviate residents’ fears.’
But Ian Wylie, who lives near the Les Monmains entrance, remains unconvinced.
‘Guernsey Coal is aware of the problems and that is why they have done a revised plan,’ he said.
‘I’m not certain that even the revised plan will be an improvement on what it is at the moment.
‘I think they are pretty set in their ways and they will not close the gate, but the residents are also very set in their ways and we want the gate shut permanently.’
Vale deputy Graham Guille praised the company for holding the public meeting.
‘This could be a win, win, win situation if handled properly,’ he said. ‘I see this as an opportunity and we must not see it as a problem. It’s an opportunity to solve the problem of the people who are going to be displaced at Leale’s Yard. It’s an opportunity to redevelop a run-down site. And there is also an opportunity to address the concerns of the residents.’
Mr Meeks thanked everyone who attended the meeting and offered to meet residents again after there had been further developments.
Article posted on 22nd October, 2007 - 12.00am
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