Roadworks rat-runners annoy residents of Rue des Reines
Saturday 16th April 2011, 2:29PM BST.

Chris Charman with son Bertie and the bin that has been hit by cars pulling into the drive. One motorist narrowly missed one of the Charmans’ dogs. (Picture by Matt Nichols, 1123954)
The closure of Rue du Manoir for manhole refurbishment has led to diversions down as far as L’Eree – or the Coudre for light vehicles – and back up via Torteval.
However, many drivers are short-cutting through Rue des Reines, causing problems akin to those in St Martin’s following the closure of Grande Rue.
Rue des Reines residents Chris and Debbie Charman put bins on the edge of their driveway to prevent cars pulling in to let others pass. However, that is still not deterring motorists using the short-cut.
- Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.
Island Life
All about Guernsey
Ambassador of the Year 2011
History & Heritage
Visitor Information
Guernsey's government
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
Charman put bins on the edge of their driveway to prevent cars pulling in to let others pass.
– nice and neighbourly
However, that is still not deterring motorists using the short-cut.
– change to ‘motorists using a public road’
“My dog nearly died” – LOL
“apocalypse” – LMAO
Report abuse
Its a public ‘lane’ so anyone is entitled to use it. It never ceases to amaze me how selfish people become once they become property owners, its MY drive and you shall not put your wheels on it, even in the interests of road safety. Putting bins in the way is really pathetic.
Report abuse
They’re putting bins to stop motorists from using their driveway to let cars past?! How insane are these people?! No wonder theres damage being done to their bins – how on earth are people supposed to know that you’re being an ar*e before they drive down there and it’s too late?
That being said I’ll echo my original post they should use the proper diversion signs but c’mon fella. Why create situations/news stories? What harm is it doing to your driveway to have a car move in there a few inches to let another past? It’s not like they’re parking there for goodness sake!
Report abuse
What an awful pair of Nimdees!
(NIMDEE = Not In My Driveway, Ever, Ever)
Report abuse
What do these people expect? People to go on bended knee and beg permission to drive on a public road past their homes?
These selfish individuals should consider themselves fortunate they live in such a lovely quiet area of the island and this is but a temporary inconvenience.
Or to put it more concisely – stop whining.
Report abuse
should have put the bins @ the end of the lane!!!
Report abuse
one presumes that citizen charman never uses others’ driveways to allow cars to pass when he’s out and about? (he prob makes everyone get out of his way…)
Report abuse
Sympathy!, there is none.
Report abuse
A fine example of what the monster modern day guernsey has created.
Greed and selfish people
Report abuse
Thank you all for your kind comments.
The purpose of contacting the Press was to highlight the incompetence of the Traffic Commitee in not making our road one way and incorporate as part of a sensible diversion.
Yes it is a road and can be used as such. No problem with that.
Also do you think it is acceptable to speed at 50 mph down a very narrow lane? No nor me!
The idiot in question who nearly mullered our dog (X5 strangly enough) pulled in fast and without looking and gouged a 4 foot furrow in the gravel – it that ok?
Unfortunatley the Press have somewhat sensationalised the story – no surprise there then.
Again to reiterate the purpose of contacting the Press was to highlight a genuine safety concern (with Traffic and police washing their hands of the situation).
You are all more than welcome to use my drive to pull in – just not 600 times a day please!
Report abuse
Citizen Charman – nice to see you’ve got a sense of humour, sir.
In regard to your comment, many islanders live with disruptions such as those you describe on a permanent basis, yet don’t see the need to contact the Press. Nevertheless, if you really felt it necessary, perhaps a better option would have been to write a letter – then at least any comment would have been in your own words and not those of a journalist.
In reference to your one-way idea. Believe me – making a lane one way only encourages budding Michael Schumachers to race their toy cars. I lived in a one way “rat run” lane near town for about a year and a half, and what you describe was a nearly daily event. There were a number of occasions I thought about buying a bazooka on the black market – but fortunately for the boy-racers I couldn’t afford one at the time….
Report abuse
I take it back Citizen Charman. You have shown yourself not to be a NIMDEE after all!
Report abuse
Paul Le Page – yep we sort of knew the reaction this might cause! Probably more than a letter to the press.
As we pointed out to the reporter we totally understand the need to maintain roads and have absolutley no problem with a diversion down the lane but it needs organisation – we asked the Traffic committee to do this and make the road one way with a 20 limit.
Job done!
Honestley some of the arguments between motorists have to be heard to be beleived.
Even I’ve learnt a few new and choice retorts.
As PB “the exodus” Falla would say, another Guernsey shambles.
Forgot to mention the bins were positioned to allow a car to pull in – trust me on this cars were there for so long a couple of Sundays ago that we considered providing refreshments (at cost of course – in a good citizenship manner).
Anyway – power to the people!
Report abuse
Citizen Charman – thanks for your response. You are a breath of fresh air! :-)
Report abuse
Citizen Charman
You are missing a crackin oppurtunity here.
For some fun in the easter hols, buy a high vis jacket a fancy dress police hat and a toy laser gun, when you hear someone speeding down the lane, pop up from behind a wall pointing the laser at the car. Hehehe, hours of fun.
Actually, if you’ll allow, can I come round and do it? We could film it, the results would be hilarious!!
Report abuse
Public road !
What are people supposed to do? Drive another mile or so in order to preserve the tranquility of a public road near your home. The whole island has to deal with it elsewhere so simply…’deal with it’
Report abuse
It all sounds so pathetic, and I’m on the side of all of you:
However this I will say.
How many of you who criticise the ‘bin putter outers’ would also say if nit was YOUR driveway.?
Report abuse