St Sampson’s constable-elect Rob Broome has some sympathy for Environment, but says nobody knows a parish like its douzaine. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0871113)

THE Environment Department is disappointed and frustrated that St Sampson’s constables think they could do a better job of coordinating roadworks in their parish.

The department came under fire last week at the St Sampson’s parish meeting when constable Andy Bichard said they could do the job more efficiently.

That followed a week of traffic disruption in the parish made worse by the closure of L’Abbaye in the neighbouring Vale.

A spokesman for Environment said that, since 2004, the St Sampson’s constables had been consulted on 391 applications for road closures, but had responded to just over a third – 140.

‘This shows quite clearly that the parish is simply not contributing to the consultation process as much as they could and should.’

He said the new system had been intended to provide a more coordinated approach to roadworks. Islanders had been complaining about the state of the roads as far back as 1985 – and that was when parish constables were in charge.

Soon to be sworn-in St Sampson’s constable Rob Broome said the douzaine should be more involved in road closures.