A long-awaited crackdown on noisy vehicles is on the way

The States has debated nuisance exhausts numerous times since 2007, when the late Deputy Dave Jones led a successful requete directing action.

Difficulty defining excessive noise has been among the reasons for delay, but Home Affairs is confident that a joint project with Environment & Infrastructure will result in proposals being published in the next few days.

‘Before the end of this States term, the committee anticipates lodging a policy letter which looks to address the issue of noisy vehicles, a long-standing political and public concern,’ said Home Affairs president Rob Prow.

Lester Queripel, who has campaigned against noisy vehicles for years, acknowledged the two committees were ‘doing their utmost’ to find a solution and said he was keeping his fingers crossed that changes would be agreed at the final States meeting of the political term.

‘This has been going on for decades and is a major health hazard for people with weak hearts, nervous dispositions and tinnitus, to mention just three ailments that are severely affected by excessively noisy vehicles and motor bikes,’ said Deputy Queripel.

He recalled a recent incident which strengthened his determination to see the problem tackled before he retires from politics at June’s general election.

He said he witnessed an incident in the Grange where a young child in a pushchair was distressed by an extremely noisy car backfiring on its way up the road.

‘The mother did her best to comfort the child but the damage was done, and the child’s hearing could quite possibly have been damaged.’

Every year holidaymakers write letters of complaint into the Guernsey Press about how noisy vehicles, particularly on the west coast in the evenings, spoiled their visit.

However Home Affairs has conceded that it will not have time to complete proposals to update police complaints processes before the States term ends in June.

Deputy Prow said that work on those reforms would continue nevertheless and then be handed over to the next committee.

‘Although an enormous amount of work has been achieved this term, and the committee has met its ambitious Government Work Plan responsibilities, the committee has not always had the resources to make progress in every area it would like and has had to prioritise,’ he said.

‘These pressures and the number of outstanding policy letters across the States have impacted the time frame for reform of the police complaints regime.'

‘However, the committee expects to see real progress made in the remainder of this term, and it is inevitable that the proposals to amend legislation will need to be considered in the next term.’

Home Affairs may submit two other policy letters in time to make the final States meeting of the term, which starts on 30 April and could continue until 8 May if the Assembly needs additional days to complete its business.

They are related to the ports, nationality and the borders, which fall to Home Affairs to deal with under its mandate for public safety and immigration.

Home Affairs recently submitted a policy letter proposing to strengthen domestic abuse and sexual offences legislation, which includes longer maximum jail terms for stalking and the introduction of stalking protection orders. It has been scheduled for debate at next week’s States meeting.

States committees will continue to meet until the political term ends on 30 June, 12 days after the general election, though it is unusual for them to make major decisions once the result of the poll has been declared.

‘Home Affairs’ commitment to maintaining momentum to deliver its policy priorities alongside essential operational service delivery is not impacted as we approach the end of this term,’ said Deputy Prow.

‘Continuing to deliver business as usual responsibilities is essential to the safety of our jurisdiction.’

At least 10 substantial policy letters are set to be published in the next week to 10 days, as committees battle to complete business before the general election.