Guernsey Press

Capelles roads closed for hours after oil spill

A LARGE oil spill from a lorry closed roads around the Capelles for more than four hours yesterday, including at the heart of the school pick-up time.

Published
This Range Rover hit a nearside wall after skidding on a large oil spill which led to many roads in the Capelles area being closed yesterday afternoon. (Picture by Nigel Baudains, 20958503)

The incident happened shortly before 2pm and resulted in a Range Rover hitting a wall near the junction of the Rue Sauvage, though nobody was hurt.

Route du Camp du Roi was shut with engine oil along almost its entire length. Police also closed Les Abreuveurs Road and Rue a Chiens.

Traffic built up in the surrounding area, particularly at school closing time.

States Works put sand on the affected roads, which included Rue Sauvage.

A police spokesman the sand would take time to absorb the oil and the road would remain closed while that took place.

‘A road sweeper will then need to go through the area to clear the sand, and a further assessment will take place,’ he said.

‘We remain in close contact with our colleagues at States Works and at Traffic and Highways while the clean-up operation continues.’

Decisions around longer term closures would be made by Traffic and Highway Services in conjunction with States Works.

‘When the road does re-open, we would advise drivers to exercise extreme caution, as the surface may still contain traces of oil.’

Civil Protection volunteers were called in to help.

Staff at Hautes Capelles Primary School stayed on due to the traffic delays to ensure that all children were collected safely.

The mother of one pupil said: ‘It didn’t take any longer than usual at this time, my son was at chess club so I picked him up at 3.45pm.

‘I was redirected down to Route Sauvage but I will travel the other way to get home.

‘I’m first-aid trained so I recognised that because someone was directing traffic there had been an incident.’

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