This Is Guernsey

By Joel de Woolfson

THE war of words between Education and Environment intensified yesterday as they criticised each other over road safety at the new Baubigny schools.

Environment defended the measures it will put in place to make the roads around St Sampson’s High and Le Murier safer, claiming the proposals will provide much greater protection for students than the plans originally submitted by Education.

‘The Education Department put forward a package of measures designed primarily to help reduce traffic speeds in the area by the installation of physical traffic calming measures,’ Environment said. ‘Most importantly, this package of measures failed to include any form of traffic calming measures whatsoever in arguably the most dangerous of all approach roads to the schools between Le Murier and Baubigny, instead favouring a policy of encouraging children to take the school bus from this direction.’

Education hit back yesterday, saying it had wanted to finalise the proposals sooner but could not as it had been forced to wait for Environment.

‘Education is disappointed that Environment’s latest proposals have been released to the media without prior consultation with Education,’ a spokeswoman said.

‘As it is the Environment Department’s responsibility to provide the solution, Education has not been able to conclude these matters as quickly as it had hoped.’

As the accusations between the departments continued, Environment claimed it had not received any data from Education as to how students would be travelling to school and was therefore forced to carry out its own survey.

However, the Education spokeswoman said a transport assessment was first submitted to Environment in 2004.

‘As part of the planning process for the new schools, a transport assessment report was produced by Education’s traffic engineers Arup, in consultation with Environment’s traffic engineers and staff,’ she said.

‘This included surveys of how pupils and staff travel to St Sampson’s Secondary School and proposed comprehensive traffic-calming measures.’

But Environment maintained its new proposals were superior.

‘Whilst providing a much safer environment for the travelling students, the package avoids the very real problems and adverse impacts that were presented by the previously considered one-ways, build-outs, raised tables and speed cushions,’ its statement said.

Education added that its only focus was on achieving safe access for students.

‘The department does not want to continue pointless bickering, especially in the run-up to the election,’ the spokeswoman added.