ENVIRONMENT yesterday came in for more criticism for not going far enough with its plans for road safety around Les Nicolles schools.
Pedestrian safety group Steps has backed the Education Department in saying more needs to be done after Environment admitted it got it wrong and released revised plans. The latest proposals would see the roads around the two new secondary schools branded a pedestrian safety zone, with reduced speed limits during school hours, painted pavements and traffic lights controlling pedestrian crossings.
‘Painted pedestrian walkways are better than nothing but they are totally inadequate for keeping teenagers safe on their walk to school,’ said Steps secretary Pat Wisher. ‘Students like to walk in groups, chatting with each other. They can only do this if there is a pavement of at least two metres in width. There is no way we will get this width with a painted walkway – there simply isn’t the space – so they’ll have to walk in single file.’
The group says that Environment missed the opportunity for making a courageous decision to introduce a one-way system, as recommended by consultants Ove Arup.
‘Baubigny is one of the most dangerous roads on which I have walked,’ said Mrs Wisher.
‘Its blind bends and high granite walls means that pedestrians are very vulnerable.
‘We cannot have students, even in a painted walkway, walking around blind bends. The only solution, in our view, is to devise a one-way system.
Mrs Wisher said that the schools’ facilities would be used by the whole community, not just students.
Steps was pleased that Environment admitted its initial ‘wait and see’ approach was wrong.
It believes the new proposals are a small step in the right direction.
‘For the first time we have the department referring to a pedestrian priority-zone,’ said Mrs Wisher.
‘Whereas, we don’t think they have gone far enough, at least the painted walkway will send out a message to motorists that pedestrians have a right to share the road.’
Article posted on 29th March, 2008 - 9.24am
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