From the left, Tom Le Pelley, John Gollop and Pat Wisher of Living Streets are now looking to move on with the path project. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0772382)
The Environment Department has granted permission for a pathway to be created which will enable pupils from St Peter Port to walk to the schools away from roads.
Pedestrian safety group Living Streets has campaigned for almost two years for the pathway – which goes across a privately-owned vinery site.
Secretary of Living Streets Pat Wisher was cautiously optimistic about the decision.
‘It’s great news. It has been a long wait and means, with the help of our sponsors, we can now go ahead and put safety measures in place in the vinery. Hopefully the route will be up and running for the summer term.’
She said the group was disappointed the planning process had taken so long but she had nothing but praise for the planning team – although there were still those who opposed the walkway.
‘We have become aware that there is still some resistance from States departments,’ said Mrs Wisher.
It was the second application for the route – the first was turned down in April.
Initially, the group worked with the Education, Home and Environment departments but, following disagreements over who would meet any cost involved, both Home and Environment withdrew their support in December 2008.
Since then it has been down to islanders and businesses, including R. G. Falla, to make it happen.
The revised planning application detailed more safety measures within the vinery site as a result of objections from the horticultural section of Commerce and Employment.
The pathway through the vinery now follows the existing path parallel with the field and prison boundary.
‘We are now very keen to start work in order to try to get the route open for the summer term. We are still, however, short of finances to pay for the rental of the pathway and so we shall be resuming our fund-raising activities. We hope that companies who may have delayed supporting us because of our planning difficulties might now come forward with help,’ said Mrs Wisher.
She said Living Streets saw the project as a ‘wonderful opportunity to open up a beautiful country route’ for pupils.
Living Streets chairman John Gollop said: ‘Young people deserve the opportunity to walk through the attractive natural environment. We hope that all the departments and members will now work together to help us get this under way.’
Article posted on 16th December, 2009 - 2.29pm
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