'Cut school speed to 20'

A DEPUTY who successfully fought for lower speed limits around Guernsey schools said more must be done to ensure pedestrian safety.

Castel deputy Tom Le Pelley applauded the Environment Department's decision to keep a 25mph speed limit around most island schools.

He said the lower limit was a great improvement.

'We won this one. 35mph was a ridiculous speed,' he said.

'I led an amendment about 18 months ago to reduce the speed limits around all the country schools. The Town schools were already in lower limit areas and it was trialled over a 12-month period from 1 September, but now they have decided it will stay.'

He would like the limit lowered to 20mph and would also like Guernsey to follow the UK's example and bring in a responsive speed camera system at various locations.

'People tend to forget their speed, but the system whereby a camera measures your speed and tells you in flashing lights really seems to remind them to keep it down,' he said.

'That system would be very beneficial across the island.'

The department has also announced that the speed limit around the new schools in St Sampson's will be 20mph from tomorrow.

All roads around the new schools at Baubigny will open by the end of tomorrow.

This follows the installation of traffic calming measures and connection of properties to the main drain.

An Environment Department spokesman thanked States and private contractors for getting the job done on time. He also praised residents and businesses for their patience.

But more work is to follow.

Vehicle actuated signs and coloured aggregate with appropriate road markings are due to be installed at the entrance to Les Sauvagees, Les Gigands Road, Le Bordage Road and Duveaux Road and within Les Effards Road to remind motorists of the 20mph speed limit and to take care during school times.

This equipment is due to arrive in the island before the end of September.

An unofficial crossing point is also due to be created at Oatlands, opposite the entrance to La Vieille Rue, within the next few weeks.