Police told about residents' diversion concerns

It has been used as a one-way diversion while Landes du Marche has been closed for more than three weeks for Guernsey Electricity, Sure and Guernsey Water work.

It is set to reopen fully today.

Sally Buckley has lived in Pont Vaillant on and off for more than 40 years and has recently found that the lane is being used as a diversion much more often.

‘Landes du Marche is such a major road and when it closes the lane is always used as a diversion,’ she said.

‘The small lanes can’t take that volume of traffic.

‘I have to force my way out of my own drive in the mornings.’

People who live in the area have become fed up with the 20mph recommended speed limit being ignored and the lane being used as a rat-run.

‘The fact there is a speed limit that is 20mph and people are just ignoring it and also driving against the one-way system are problems,’ said Ms Buckley.

‘The speed of traffic along the road is the main problem,’ said another resident who asked to remain anonymous.

Residents have felt the need to take action during the course of this diversion, with multiple people having contacted the police.

‘We live on the corner as you turn down towards the Shiloh Church and people use our drive to turn around in. We have reported it to the police and are now having to park in the entrance to our drive to stop this happening.’

Residents think that the one-way system has made the area more dangerous for pedestrians.

‘You take your life in your hands walking around here at the best of times, but the one way makes it lethal,’ said Ms Buckley.

Ms Buckley has started to take note of how often the road is used as a diversion.

‘I have started writing down how often it is used,’ she said.

‘It is used all the time and now someone needs to shout about it.’

Pamela Pettinger, 86, has also taken action about issues the diversion has caused her. She has had a van parked outside her driveway since the start of the diversion.

‘Someone was coming to my driveway and they couldn’t turn to reverse in because of the van,’ she said.

‘I had to go into the road to stop the traffic so she could get in the drive and the people driving were getting more and more annoyed.

‘I have complained to the police five times. This diversion is just terrible.’

Another resident, who also wished not to be named, has said that the diversion has caused confusion among people who live in the area.

‘It has definitely caused some confusion and people aren’t happy about it,’ she said.

‘People do not know which way to come out of their drives onto the road.’