‘A new road could help ease school traffic’
A FORMER douzenier has proposed that new roads could relieve traffic congestion when the number of pupils doubles at the St Sampson’s High School site.
Keith Tostevin had ideas to improve the existing roads in 1999 while on the St Sampson’s douzaine.
That was when Arup, a UK-based engineering company, was commissioned to assess whether adjustments had to be made for the Baubigny Schools.
‘In 1999, the douzaine discussed all the details for the opening,’ Mr Tostevin said.
‘I was asked to investigate the possibility of an alternative road. I met a representative from Arup and at every stage I pointed out all the pitfalls.’
However, Arup did not heed Mr Tostevin’s warnings.
‘I’m glad to say in one way, and sad in the other, that exactly what I said was going to happen is happening now.’
Several possible options have been suggested, including developing existing pathways from Victoria Avenue into Town and those surrounding St Sampson’s High School.
‘What I’m proposing is for a brand-new road to run up from Victoria Avenue. This will require crossing two fields to connect to the prison road or to cross straight over to the Baubigny site,’ said Mr Tostevin.
‘There are advantages and disadvantages. For example, the loss of field space and parking for Victoria Avenue residents.’
To address this, a new car park opposite the Guernsey Football Club is included. Plans for GFC to build a new football stadium have been approved.
‘A car park here would satisfy all the extra parking for Victoria Road residents, as well as overspill for the footy,’ Mr Tostevin said.
‘Finally, it would make the best use out of Chateau du Marais, an underused area for tourism.
‘Currently it is difficult to direct tourists to Chateau du Marais via the Bouet and it has little parking, so this way it would be opened up to all.’
Many alternative routes have been considered to provide options if any ideas are seen as problematic.
‘I want the Planning and Environment departments to seriously look at it and persuade those in Education, Sport & Culture.’
The idea is to reduce traffic congestion around the school and Capelles area.
‘First of all, to get to SSHS you can come up Vale Road or go straight up St Clair Hill. Baubigny Road used to take a lot of the traffic that you get these days, but now you start getting backed up. It’s mainly used for the school and for residents, but this hasn’t sufficed for the increase of extra traffic in the last 10 years,’ said Mr Tostevin,
‘Secondly, when you arrive at Capelles having followed those roads, you get major problems at peak times.
‘Those who drop their children at the high school then have to go all the way around Capelles, where traffic is backed up from the primary school and traffic lights all the way to the Pony Inn. More traffic lights and filters won’t work.’
Mr Tostevin wants to overhaul the available infrastructure by building new routes altogether to allow driving to become more efficient during rush hours.
‘In the last 50 years no new roads have been built, excluding a replacement road at the airport, which ran adjacent to an existing road,’ said Mr Tostevin. ‘This offers a simple solution with some clever thinking to speed up traffic.’
Concerns over the environmental impact have been considered.
‘It’s worthy to note that this is an area of biodiversity and I am talking to Environment to offset these changes,’ said Mr Tostevin.
‘There would be compensation by planting more trees, shrubs and the like.
‘Around the Marais could be a footpath through the trees and a picnic area for families and tourists.’
Practicality and benefit to the masses are included within his reasoning.
‘The reason I’m doing this is because I still have community spirit. I have no political interest in going back to the douzaine nor with standing for election.’
‘People complain when plans are proposed that they don’t want this, that or the other. But what alternatives are being put forward?’
