Gridlock fears after Leale’s Yard work

Saturday 11th April 2009, 2:30PM BST.

Jim Hopley of The CO-OP at Leale's Yard with the detailed plans for the development of the site.

Jim Hopley of The CO-OP at Leale's Yard with the detailed plans for the development of the site.

PEOPLE living near the Bridge fear traffic chaos could be caused by the Leale’s Yard development.

The £100m. project includes 815 parking spaces, 170 new homes and 14,000sq. m. of retail space.

It would bring more cars to an area which is surrounded by narrow roads.

Dave Hannah, 50, is not sure how the road system will cope.

‘The development will be good for the area, but I don’t know how the roads will handle the traffic. It is bound to be a problem, especially with the number of incidents already happening in the area. It will all depend how it is sorted out.’

Neighbour Colin Hubert, 52, shares these concerns.

‘The roads struggle with traffic. There are 800 spaces, but where will those 800 cars go when they leave?

‘I don’t think it will improve the area. I think it would be better if they turned it into a park.’

The project has been submitted for planning permission by the Channel Islands Co-operative Society, which owns the site.

Chief executive Jim Hopley said a traffic study has been carried out.


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  1. 1
    Eric

    Now let us see and hear if our wonderful Rulers (just joking) will sanction this,

    if they do, then I foresee many new faces at the next election

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  2. 2
    Josh

    Built a new road.

    Simple

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  3. 3
    James

    Guernsey has to move forward in to the real world. I am not saying become like the UK, not at all, but modernisation is needed.

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  4. 4
    valeite

    I think the Bridge needs something to bring it back to life, and maybe a busy supermarket is just what it needs. I must say the plans look very grand indeed and also very appealing but there will have to be some big name shops in there to make the whole area vibrant and not a building like the market has turned out, 3 or 4 shops open and the rest empty.

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  5. 5
    the man

    it will do the bridge good ,more jobs more shops and flats ,lets get it done and clear up leales yard its just going to waste

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  6. 6
    valeite

    I think the Marina at St. Sampsons should be partly available for visiting yachts/boats then there would be more people looking to buy provisions down there and on a Saturday morning have a little open air market on the Crocq selling veg etc like the farmers markets, St. Sampsons is so like Paimpol in Brittany and that little port is an absolute gem.Lovely to see the local marina – better than that smelly area before, but locals are not out looking for provisions.

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  7. 7
    Eric

    Don’t be silly Josh; they can’t manage ordinary traffic lights and pedestrian crossings

    A new road would be a tremendous affair for them, by the time they were finished, even the planning: people will be using helicopters

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  8. 8
    Pete

    Well said Eric, but at least someone realises that it’s inadequate roads that cause congestion and not the lack of car parking.

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  9. 9
    Mike

    Another white elephant like the much delayed Town Market development. Will it take as long to get through the planning stage, the building stage then to remain 80% empty when it finally staggers to an opening day.

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  10. 10
    Eric

    Oh by the way Mike-
    That white elephant you speak of:

    It’s turning GREY with age!

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  11. 11
    Jackie

    Can’t people from the Bridge use buses?

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  12. 12
    WHBonney

    I wouldnt worry about roads too much…

    By the time planning permission is granted, they have got through the pathetic amount of red tape & jumped through the hoops that the States keep moving, cars will be a thing of the past & we will be getting around in flying cars or teleports – therefore our precious roads that have had cars on them for years wont be affected….

    How dare they even think about diverting cars down roads…

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  13. 13
    Eric

    Beam Me up Mr Trott

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  14. 14
    Ray

    Eric

    You were a bit hard on the States about not being able to manage pedestrian crossings properly.

    They are very proud of the fact that nine out of ten motorists give way to pedestrians on courtesy crossings.

    Unfortunately I quite often seem to be crossing when the tenth one is due.

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  15. 15
    Melc

    Ray maybe you look to much like a State memeber.. That why the driver don’t slow down??.

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