School streets – which means motorised transport cannot use certain roads near schools at pick-up and drop-off times – have already been tried near St Martin’s, La Houguette and St Sampson’s High.
The latest proposal is for Ruette des Delisles – a narrow lane that runs up to Les Beaucamps High School from Rue des Delisles.
From Monday 22 September and Monday 3 November the lower, western section of the lane will shut to most traffic on weekdays between 8am and 8.30am and then between 3pm and 3.30pm.
It is hoped the move will encourage more students to travel by foot or bike and reduce congestion.
Traffic & Highway Services road safety officer Paul James said they were looking forward to trying out the latest school street scheme.
‘We know the start and end of the school day can be particularly busy, so creating safer, calmer routes for students to walk or cycle is a positive step,’ he said.
‘If we can encourage more young people to build these habits now, it will benefit them and the wider community well into the future.’
Les Beaucamps principal Martin Haimes said managing traffic at the start and end of the school day was a challenge.
‘This trial is an opportunity to see if the school street model can make that experience safer and more manageable for our students, staff and families.’
Homes below the closure will continue to be accessed from Rue des Delisles, while those above it will remain accessible from Les Beaucamps road.
Access to the Les Beaucamps High School main car park will remain via Les Beaucamps Road.
For families travelling from the south and west, the nearby Le Viage car park has been identified as a suitable alternative drop-off and pick-up point.
The car park surface has already been improved, with further upgrades planned should the trial prove successful.
Traffic & Highway Services will monitor the impact of the trial in conjunction with the school and its community, before putting forward proposals to Environment & Infrastructure on whether the scheme should be extended to a full 12-month statutory trial.
School Street timings extended at La Vielle Rue
The School Street timings at La Vielle Rue have been extended to help both high school and primary school pupils.
The narrow lane near St Sampson’s High School is being trialled under the scheme, which means that the road is closed to most traffic during school drop-off and pick-up times.
With St Sampson’s starting at 8.30am and finishing at 3.05pm, the street times were set at 8am to 8.30am and 3pm to 3.30pm on weekdays.
But a week after the scheme started, there has already been feedback from the community, which has revealed the lane is also used by cyclists from nearby Hautes Capelles Primary School.
The primary school starts at 8.30pm, but finishes between 2.40pm and 2.50pm depending on students’ ages.
That has led the trial times to be updated in the afternoon to 2.45pm to 3.30pm, which will ensure primary pupils can also fully benefit.
‘This is exactly what feasibility trials are for – giving us the chance to respond to local feedback and work with the community to make sure the scheme really works for everyone,’ a States spokesman said.
During school street times only cyclists, emergency vehicles and motorists accessing property in the lane can use the road, as well as pedestrians.
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