Les Nicolles Schools. (Picture by Brian Green)
NEW traffic-calming measures around St Sampson’s High and Le Murier schools have been welcomed by Living Streets Guernsey.
The pedestrian safety group said the steps being taken would be for the benefit of everybody, including those who live near the new school.
‘We are absolutely delighted the road planners are adopting the measures that we asked for,’ said group secretary Pat Wisher. ‘We are particularly pleased to see that they will be introducing a 2.5-metre kerbed footpath and cycle way in Duveaux Road and Baubigny Road.’
Members had been concerned that the planners would just mark the road with a white line. ‘Traffic will get three metres, so the share has been divided almost equally between vulnerable road users and motorists,’ said Mrs Wisher.
It is not clear at this stage whether a cycle contraflow will be introduced. Mrs Wisher said the group, formerly Steps, had put in a request that cyclists going against the traffic flow be allowed to ride on the raised kerb while those going with it could ride in the road.
The Environment Department recently announced that a one-way system would be imposed in the area by the time the schools open in September. On Friday it unveiled its latest set of measures, which includes a 20mph speed limit.
Roads around other schools are currently limited to 25mph and Mrs Wisher said 20mph mirrored the UK situation.
‘A pedestrian hit by a car at 20mph has an 80% chance of survival, but that percentage dramatically reduces as the speed goes up,’ she said.
‘Environment has put a lot of thought into the various elements and I really hope that parents will now see that it is safe for their children to walk or cycle to school.
‘I believe that residents will in the end really appreciate what has been done to the roads as it will make it safer for them, too.’
She said many people were reluctant to walk to the St Sampson’s douzaine room at Le Murier but that would soon not be a problem.
Former deputy Dan Le Cheminant, who lives in Epinelle Road, said it was too early to say how the system would work. He was concerned that it could cause a build-up of traffic in the Hautes Capelles School area, which is busy with younger children.
‘I hope that the diversion of traffic will not have an adverse effect on that school and that if it does, they will be prepared to change it,’ he said.
‘I have no criticism of anyone and I know that the schools are in the wrong place because I opposed them at the time – and I hope that I’m wrong.’
The safety group is still investigating the idea of providing pedestrian access from the St Peter Port area to the back of the schools using green lanes.
Article posted on 16th June, 2008 - 11.30am
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