Friday 15 May 2015
Media Enquiry from BBC Radio Guernsey:
Has the status of this crossing been changed in priority to the pedestrian?
We understand traffic wardens are there now when cruise ships are in, why is this?
How is this working, are they (the traffic wardens) being taken away from their usual duties?
Do you feel it's or more dangerous as more people go to wait in the middle section of the road or have the changes made things safer?
Environment Department Response:
Has the status of this crossing been changed in priority to the pedestrian?
No, this remains an informal crossing and priority remains with the motorist. However, the junction has been made significantly safer for pedestrians by reducing traffic lanes in each direction to single file and providing a central refuse in which to wait for traffic to clear or cars to stop.
Do you feel it's or more dangerous as more people go to wait in the middle section of the road or have the changes made things safer?
Not at all, as indicted above the whole purpose was to make the crossing safer and we consider this objective has been achieved.
How is this working?
We consider that the crossing is working well. Some motorists inevitably are still approaching the crossing with a degree of hesitancy but most are now treating the crossing as an informal courtesy crossing as has been the case for many years.
We understand traffic wardens are there now when cruise ships are in, why is this? Are they (the traffic wardens) being taken away from their usual duties?
As indicated above the crossing was redesigned to improve safety and as part of a redesign of the Quay. If the trial redesign of the Quay proves to be a success then ultimately we will be able to widen the seaward pavement and improve the appearance of the area. The presence of the wardens at the crossing when larger cruise ships are in has nothing to do with this redesign of the crossing to improve safety but rather is as a result of the significantly increased number of pedestrians from the cruise ships now using this crossing. The wardens are there essentially to manage the flow of pedestrians and traffic. The arrangement for the provision of the wardens is one between the Public Services Department and the Home Department and is part and parcel of the changes referred to by Deputy Ogier in his responses to Rule 5 questions in the States meeting yesterday.
Contact Information:
Karl Guille, Traffic and Transport Services Manager
Environment Department
Tel: 243400
