This Is Guernsey

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.’