‘Parishioners know what works well and should be listened to’

Following the public release of the plans last Tuesday, parish Deputy Jane Stephens has encouraged ESC to listen to locals near to St Sampson’s High School, one of the schools in the new two-school model, to accommodate their views on the plans.

‘There are some very good ideas in the plans,’ she said.

‘But parishioners know what works well now and they should be listened to when it comes to such a huge change that impacts them.

‘There are still concerns over traffic movement and it needs to be addressed in terms of the existing infrastructure, housing and amenities and looked carefully at managing the increase in people coming to the school.’

Deputy Stephens said she had received representations from constituents, including concerns about pressure on the lanes around the schools and HGV vehicles using narrow roads.

‘There is tension between the perceived imperfections of the current situation and what is anticipated will be inadequate provision for travel when the school expands,’ she said.

This included a fear that if car parking is increased there will be a ‘‘build it and they will come’’ effect on car use.

‘I’m sure it will be looked at though because there is a lot of potential,’ she added.

In the traffic impact assessment, the plans involve shifting the main method of travel to and from school from private cars to walking, buses, cycling and using scooters.

Nearby resident to the school Mike Robin said he would hope the plans involved a contingency plan.

‘It would work in theory but they don’t seem to have made a contingency plan,’ he said.

‘If parents do still take their kids to school by private car then the two-school model won’t work. It’s a big if.

‘What is proposed is an ideological theory that everybody is going to want to walk – I think they lack foresight.’

A public drop-in was hosted last week to give people more information.

Mr Robin attended the drop-in and said: ‘They weren’t very forthcoming and they repeated the idea of having drop-off points.’

It also included new information which residents said they were not told about previously.

‘The States plan to change the surrounding speed limit to 20mph,’ said Mr Robin.

‘You’re lucky if you can move during rush hour, let alone do 20mph.

‘Even now at 3pm all around St Sampson’s High School and Capelles is gridlock, and that’s without doubling the amount of students.’

n The planning application is currently available to view at Sir Charles Frossard House and will be available for the public to make representations until Friday 27 December.