St Sampson’s officials have traffic concerns over stadium
SERIOUS concerns around traffic are likely to see St Sampson’s douzaine objecting to plans for a football stadium at Victoria Avenue.
A planning application has been submitted by the Guernsey Football Association. The stadium would be used for football academy training, the Muratti, Guernsey FC matches and big events such as the NatWest Island Games.
In the application it is stated that people travelling to the site would be encouraged to park either at Salerie Corner – a mile away – or get the bus.
St Sampson’s constable Paul Le Pelley said the idea was discussed by the douzaine on Monday.
‘We welcome the idea of having this sort of facility on-island, but we share concerns of the people living near the site,’ he said.
‘It’s something we are writing to Environment about and the impact it will have on the area.’
In the planning application it states that 50 parking spaces are planned. The stadium has capacity for up to 2,500 spectators.
‘We don’t think 50 spaces is enough,’ Mr Le Pelley said.
‘Also those 50 spaces are not going to be used by fans on match days – they are disabled spaces and for people with passes.’
He was concerned about people driving down the dead end road to drop people off and then being unable to get out due to the zigzag parking arrangements.
He suggested that it might be worth investigating continuing the road to the Baubigny Schools, which would help the stadium and the school if it was used under the two-school model.
He expected the matter to be discussed at the St Sampson’s parish meeting next week.
St Peter Port senior constable Dennis Le Moignan said he thought building a new stadium was a good idea.
‘But I know there are going to be traffic problems,’ he said. ‘There always is when there are fully booked matches. It’s a bit stupid to only have 50 parking spaces.’
While the site is in St Sampson’s, Salerie Corner is in St Peter Port.
Mr Le Moignan said there was likely to be enough space in the car park for football fans at some points.
‘In an evening there is probably enough parking,’ he said.
‘On a Saturday I don’t know, as I have not checked it on a Saturday afternoon. I suspect there will be more spaces than during the week, as the people who work in offices will not be there.’
A traffic impact assessment, which is included with the planning application, found that only a quarter of the 400 Salerie spaces were in use on a Saturday afternoon when checked one afternoon last year.
Mr Le Moignan said he thought one way to tackle the traffic issue would be to turn Victoria Avenue into a through road, possibly with a road running up to Pitronnerie Road.
n The St Sampson’s parish meeting is on Wednesday at 7.30pm at Le Murier School, directly after the church meeting.
