St Martin’s road closure an ‘accident waiting to happen’

La Route des Coutures will now be shut between 8.30am and 9am, and then between 2.45pm and 3.15pm on school days after a 12-month trial.

However, those accessing properties on the road and cyclists will still have access at all times.

Residents in the road spoken to by the Guernsey Press have backed the scheme being made permanent.

But St Martin’s Constable Dave Beausire said he had requested the meeting with THS after receiving several emails from concerned residents.

‘The constables have concerns over the increased traffic in the lanes with the school lane closed and were not consulted on this decision to make it permanent,’ he said.

‘We feel it’s an accident waiting to happen and a one-way system should be considered. The closure had caused a lot of congestion in the surrounding lanes.’

He said that when changes were first proposed the douzaine had met with representatives from the school and THS and raised their concerns.

‘The point is the road is not shut, it’s open to residents and they can still get in and out,’ he said.

‘If you look at the photo the States put out with the press release there are children right across the road and not even staying towards the left-hand side.’

A Traffic & Highway Services said earlier feedback from the constables was considered as part of the trial.

‘However, we welcome the opportunity to discuss traffic impact in the parish with the constables.’

Residents spoken to by the Guernsey Press were in favour of the change.

Maria McCord lives in La Route des Coutures right next to the school and said she welcomed the decision to make the closure of her road permanent for drop-offs and pick-up times at the school.

‘It’s really been no problem, and if we have to leave our property during these times the staff have been really accommodating in helping us,’ she said.

‘It can be a rat run and I think this makes it so much safer for all the young people. I don’t think making it one way would help as you would still get traffic moving down the road at speed.’

Jade Le Cheminant, who lives in a clos close to the school, said she had been concerned when the road closure trial started.

‘Now I love it and it really hasn’t been a problem,’ she said.

‘The staff who manage the road are really good. My son Rory starts school in September and it will make it far safer for him to get to school.

One of the roads that has seen increased traffic is nearby Burnt lane which is too narrow for two-way traffic to pass smoothly.

However Natasha Mahy who lives on the road said she was also in favour.

‘As a mother who will soon be walking to the school when my daughter is old enough I like the idea,’ she said. ‘My worry would come in if the States plan to build more houses on Burnt lane goes ahead. That would be far too much traffic for the lane to deal with and a one way system would surely need to be considered.’