Security fears have been raised by the Home Department because the route now approved by Environment runs close to the prison and a high fence designed to stop items being thrown into the compound. (0893525)
THE Home Department is worried about prison security following planning approval for Living Streets’ Baubigny schools walking route.
It is now planned to run directly past the prison, near a high fence designed to stop people throwing items into the compound.
Home minister Geoff Mahy said his board would have to look at Environment’s decision to see how the route’s proximity to the prison would affect security.
‘When you have a footpath, you cannot just restrict it to children.
‘The decision has implications – we will have to look at the security of the fence, whether it is high enough, and to see if other alterations need to be made,’ he said.
But Deputy Mahy said the department had to accept the decision.
Pedestrian safety group Living Streets secretary Pat Wisher said it had agreed in its original application to avoid going past the prison and had plotted a route through the other side of a private vinery.
Article posted on 4th January, 2010 - 2.30pm
19 Article Comments
This is absolutely classic, spend ages debating where to put a school,decide to put it in the worst possible place next to the prison then find there’s “issues” with access to the school because a newly approved pathway runs past the perimiter fence…we won’t mention the school netball courts being in full view of a wing of the prison either.
Is it any wonder a lot of people have no faith in those in power making these sort of decisions..
Report abuse
Completely agree with you Greg, the roads around that end are horrible too.
Report abuse
Embarassingly stupid idea !
Report abuse
As the Old Prison used to boarder a public pavement, this argument seems pretty pointless.
Or have the Home Department got very short memories ?
If people want to throw things into the prison, they will find a way to do so no matter how high a fence is, and how far away public access is from any fence.
Report abuse
How Stupid! now they are worried, what about all the parents that DIDNT want the stupid school built there in the first place. Like u say GregR -Classic Guernsey eh!
Report abuse
Almost everyday something turns up in the news which convinces me that without doubt our island is being governed by complete idiots.
This is no exception.
Report abuse
Beanjar,
At this stage I don’t have a particularly strong view either way about the suitability of this path.
But please remember that an organisation which has nothing to do with the States is behind the proposed opening of the path.
The States built St Sampson’s High and has ensured that there are very adequate arrangements in place for cars, buses, cyclists and pedestrians to get in and out of the school.
If you are dissatisfied with this latest development, surely you cannot attribute all of the blame to government and none to the non-States organisation behind the path.
I wish Living Streets well with a project to which they are obviously admirably committed. I hope it works out well for all parties.
Report abuse
Good call Deepthroat Donkey.
I made a similar point when people were complaining about the prison being built close to the school. How quickly people forgot that the old prison was in similar proximity to Elizabeth College….
Report abuse
As Matt Fallaize correctly points out the Living Streets group are indeed not a states body, thats probably why they have had a reasonable idea of creating this path, no bad thing in the idea but the problem lies in the fact that they have had to battle hard to get it sorted, including opposition from land owners (I seem to remember a relative of the CM being involved somewhere along the line)and of course they are well aware of the paths proximity to the prison. At least they have forged ahead with the plan whereas the states have done little, (apart from make a mess of the surrounding roads) the approval of a path adjacent to the prison fence however is entirely down to a states department we all fondly call the environment department.
Should I even mention the crackpot idea of teaching kids its ok to cycle the ‘wrong’ way along a one way road, even if it is on a special path.
I think the point about the old prison is a moot one for a number of reasons the most salient being that times have changed as has the number and nature of those incarcerated at Les Nicolles.
Report abuse
Has anyone decided on a name for this route yet?
How about Perv’s Lane
Report abuse
Matt F.
Adequate arrangements in place for pedestrians to get in and out of the Baubigny school? From St Peter Port? Do you really think so?
I have to take my hat off to Pat Wisher who is working so hard to try and get this project off the ground. It is exactly the sort of provision that the States ought to be instigating throughout the island. We shouldn’t have to rely on voluntary groups to battle the authorities to get facilities that would encourage more of us to walk our journeys.
Report abuse
I have lived around this area for many years and own property around here, I do have many concerns about this walk way to school, as kids we played around that area and it was always marshy and most of the winter impossible to walk around the paths as they were under water, it is extremely remote and we were always in groups and told never to go that way on our own, and that was in the 60’s ,a lot of work is going to be needed to make it passable after all it is called Les Marais, which speaks for itself, as for the prison nearby, surely they can address that problem quite easily. Lets face it,it is not exactly Broadmoor.
Report abuse
Simply plant conifers!
Report abuse
I understand that RG Falla’s have undertaken to do the physical work to make the paths etc safe and clear of water etc. The pathway does need a fair amount of work to make it a more open and congenial environment for walking, but this is all perfectly do-able provided the will to make it work is there. I would hope that they will involve the children in some of the work to encourage them to develop a sense of ownership for the walkway and therefore an interest in keeping it in good condition.
Report abuse
Oh Rosie please have you seen the area, children helping with the work, certainly not until it has been cleared up,unless the area has changed around there (which I very much doubt)since I was a kid, let R G Falla get on with it which they have kindly offered to do.
Report abuse
Valeite
If the area was wet when you were young what do you think it is like now they have raised the height of all the school land by so much? Fields that used to be useable all year are under water for several months now. Raising this path will only add to the drainage problems
Report abuse
who ever came up, with putting a prison next to a shcool!!!
i hope who ever it was, are sending their children.
very very intelligent.
Report abuse
mrs perkins
I think the history books will show that the prison was there first
Report abuse
Mrs Perkins darling, you are letting down the Mrs Ps of this world…….
As Ray points out the prison was there first and before that it was just across the road from Elizabeth College.
What’s the problem?
Report abuse