The roads around the new St Sampson’s High School and Les Murier special needs secondary school at Les Nicolles will become a one way system. Environment Minister Deputy Peter Sirett and Education Department Minister Deputy Carol Steere.
PEOPLE affected by new traffic proposals for the new schools at Les Nicolles are waiting anxiously to find out the Environment Department’s final decision.
Many said that they supported the possibility of a one-way system, which will replace the pedestrian safety zones favoured by the former board. But which way the traffic will flow has yet to be decided and the residents want to be better informed than they have been.
Joe Gomes, 64, who lives in Les Effards, was pleased by the decision. ‘I think it’s definitely a good idea because the road is far too narrow to be two-way. It would have been too dangerous to come out of the school. It would have been chaos. I think they’ve made the right decision.’
Susan Drummy, 59 who has lived in this area for most of her life was pleased about the department’s U-turn. ‘I’m totally in agreement with a one-way system. There would have been lots of accidents. I walked up to Capelles School with my grandchildren once, one in a push chair and one in front, and I would never do it again. And that was before they built the school.
‘The three sets of lights just wouldn’t have worked. The road should be one way up to Capelles School so that people can come down past Oatlands so that it’s a circular flow.’
Many Baubigny residents were pleased that children’s safety was being put first.
Full-time mum Rufhe Billyeald, 27, has just moved to the island from Devon
‘I think it will be right for the road as it’s so busy. When we were house hunting it was very busy and obviously being a Guernsey road it is not wide enough. But I’m not bothered which way they decide to have it.
‘It will be nice to walk to Capelles if my children go there. I think this will make it a lot safer.’
Housewife Julie Creed thought that a one-way system was the best option. She felt there was also a need for more pavements and a high kerb.
‘It will cut down traffic and encourage people to slow down. It’s going to be inconvenient, but people will have to put up with it for the children to see that they are safe. We went to the original meeting and we are delighted that sense has prevailed.’
However Esme, 77, and Frank Marquis, 79, were concerned that a one-way system would encourage people to speed.
‘I think it’s just going to be used as a race track because we have a lot of scooters and motorbikes that come through here, especially at school time,’ said Mrs Marquis.
‘My husband and I just think it’s an accident waiting to happen. I think the original idea was much better. We were more or less told that it wasn’t going to be a one-way. I think that has got a lot of people upset.’
Mr Marquis believed that proposed road humps would be unnecessary.
‘The only snag is we don’t know which way they will have the one-way. It’s going to snarl up the road like you see at Capelles now.
‘It can take 20 minutes to get from Camp du Roi to Capelles School in the morning.
‘For the likes of the fire brigade it would be better to have two entrances but you won’t have that with a one-way.’
Article posted on 28th May, 2008 - 2.29pm
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