‘Filter-in-turn better option for Rue du Friquet junction’

A planning application for the post-16 campus at nearby Les Ozouets has raised the prospect of traffic lights at the junction due to increased traffic in the area. They could be installed in a couple of years.

La Baguette is a popular shop that sits right on the corner of the junction and has entrances opening into both roads.

Its front wall has been damaged in car accidents before.

Manager Fatima Alves said increased vehicles would be a risk to pedestrians, particularly those walking to the Grammar School.

‘There’s going to be a big accident,’ she said.

‘Lots of children walk through our car park. It’s a worry for them because the pavement runs out.’

La Baguette customer Bridget Cowens feared that traffic lights would lead to cars backed up along both roads and proposed a filter-in-turn instead.

And La Baguette assistant manager Kenny Tweddell agreed.

‘I’m surprised there aren’t more crashes already,’ he said.

Les Baissieres resident Colin De Mouilpied moved to his new home only in the last few months and since then he said he had a lot of concerns about traffic in the area, mainly with people parking outside his house while calling into the shop.

He contacted the constables and a new yellow line was painted outside his and other properties in the last few weeks.

‘That junction is an absolute nightmare,’ he said.

He has also asked for sycamore trees in a field running up to the junction to be cut back. One was blown over recently and fell into the field, but he fears a future storm could see trees falling into the road.

It was already difficult getting out of his drive in the mornings and queues of traffic at any lights would make that even harder.

‘A filter might be a better option. I can’t see how traffic lights can make life any easier.’

But another recently-arrived resident supported traffic lights at the junction.

‘I’ve thought about how dangerous it is here, with no pavement at all,’ said Diana Laveille.

‘I think lights would be a good idea.’

Sue Wyatt-Nicolle owns the house and the property next door to La Baguette. She thought people would get used to lights if they were installed.

‘It might make for better safety,’ she said.

‘If you try walking along as a pedestrian you get confronted with people coming down who are not doing 25. At certain times of the day people have come flying around. As a pedestrian there’s a blind spot when crossing the road [in Le Friquet]. People don’t just do 25mph. They’re just totally unaware of other road users.

‘Or maybe a filter would help.’

Traffic assessment, page 2