Guernsey Press

Pointues Rocques plans ‘will reduce quality of life’

CHANGING vehicle access around Pointues Rocques in the hope of reducing traffic in the area will not ease the concerns of St Sampson’s parish officials.

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St Sampson’s Junior Constable Leonie Le Tissier and the parish’s senior Constable Paul Le Pelley at Pointues Rocques. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 30732138)

The parish constables said yesterday that they feared turning Rue des Pointues Rocques and part of Robergerie into prohibited streets would reduce the quality of life for current residents of the area, let alone new residents for another proposed development on the controversial site in the area.

And the architect behind the plans has resigned himself to the fact that it appears nothing proposed will satisfy residents of the area and enable a development to go ahead.

Junior constable Leonie Le Tissier thought the development would diminish quality of life for residents, regardless of prohibited roads, and said the douzaine had not supported the original appeal either.

She said prohibited streets at Pointues Rocques could worsen traffic in nearby lanes, which were already too busy when roads were closed.

‘It’s not really going to solve the problem I don’t think. I can see why the idea came from but how will it be policed? Everyone will use Rue des Pointues Rocques for cut-throughs if they can.’

Senior constable Paul Le Pelley said current residents should be the priority but many islanders would use Rue des Pointues Rocques for access to the nearby schools.

‘There are people directly here who are going to be impacted. There will be a massive increase of traffic in the best case scenario.’

The constables said that there could be the prospect of hundreds of new homes built in the parish and the north of the island more generally over the next few years.

‘It’s a problem now with the traffic, let alone with another 700 properties,’ said Mrs Le Tissier.

‘The housing crisis situation is really exacerbating and it’s making it inevitable that it’s all going to happen here.’

A document from Environment & Infrastructure has recently been released about the cumulative effects of proposed developments in the area. Mr Le Pelley said it was important that wider implications of the plans were considered.

‘It’s all done in isolation – there’s no one looking at a bigger plan,’ he said. ‘We have junctions already used at over 100% capacity.’

Mrs Le Tissier said that there needed to be ‘serious’ States investment in amenities in the north of the island.

‘They need to put some serious money into people’s quality of life here,’ she said.

‘If they did Leale’s Yard, it would be a catalyst for the regeneration of the Bridge.’

Architect Peter Falla knows the plans now will inevitably face criticism, much of it on the grounds of traffic.

The new plans reduce car parking spaces and seek to support other transport options.

‘Nothing that we do will satisfy local residents who have set their minds closed to this development,’ he said.

There will be a drop-in at St Sampson’s Douzaine Room on Saturday where parishioners can view the Pointues Rocques plans and share their views. Parking will be available across the road.