This Is Guernsey

By Simon Tostevin

SMALLER buses would be better on narrow roads, the Environment Department has admitted.

The issue of size arose again at the weekend when an Island Coachways bus smashed into parked cars in Church Road, St Sampson’s, causing thousands of pounds-worth of damage. An Environment spokesman said the department’s board would look at the size of buses in the future.

But he said that the cost of having a mixed fleet  could prove a stumbling block. ‘It’s something the board will be looking at because it will have to consider it if more buses are to be brought in,’ he said.

‘There are certain routes that are very narrow and difficult to turn in. An example is around St Saviour’s Church.

‘With roads like that, perhaps we do need smaller buses.’

He said there were arguments for and against the current ones, which did have the capacity necessary to cope with the increasing demand.

‘Numbers have gone up by 50% in the last five years,’ he said.

‘We have a very good alternative now to the car and if you started leaving people behind at the stop because the bus wasn’t big enough, then the service is no longer effective.

‘But in the narrow areas perhaps smaller buses would be more advantageous.’

However, money would be a factor, the spokesman said.

‘Maintenance will be more expensive if we don’t have entirely the same fleet,’ he said.

‘This is a critical period. In reality, to expand further we will need more buses and drivers.

‘By the sound of it the commuters are coming in now so we need to look at it.’