Friday 26 June 2015
Media Enquiry from Open Lines Column, Guernsey Press:
In respect of of the cycle path at Belgrave taken on Saturday morning. Those temporary parking spaces are costing someone a lot of money. What do cyclists get? Dismount signs. This is also the same situation that normally applies in this area. In that case why are dismount signs necessary?
A considerable amount of road space has been removed from motorists to improve pedestrian safety at the Albert Pier but none can be spared for cyclists at Belgrave. This does not appear to be a consistent approach.
It is high time that the Environment Department recognised that if they provide cycling facilities then some attempt should be made to keep them open during roadworks. At the moment 'cyclist dismount' signs are their only response, even where they could easily be avoided.
Environment Department Response:
The area in question at Les Banques was set up by Guernsey Water to facilitate its major infrastructure project to provide a new sewage outfall system at Belle Greve Bay and involves the temporary relocation of public parking and the creation of a works compound where the existing car park is located.
The initial phase of the project relates primarily to shore side operations and there are a significant number of commercial vehicles operating in close proximity to the Red Lion slipway and the compound is often frequented by contractors' vehicles and other large specialist machinery and plant.
Guernsey Water located a temporary car parking area on top of the grass verge to the north of the existing car park and there is a tarmac fillet providing access on to and off this raised area of land. This was done to accommodate vehicles displaced by the works being carried out. Consequently, it is possible that vehicles will be backing down a slope directly onto the cycle path.
Faced with these new risks resulting from the Guernsey Water works compound and the relocated temporary car park, it was considered necessary to introduce temporary restrictions in the area. The alternative of asking Guernsey Water to vacate the car park is considered an unreasonable demand now the project has started. In the interest of public safety, cyclists are therefore being asked to dismount and walk through the closure area on the pedestrian part of the pavement for the duration of these works.
Ultimately the Environment Department has to decide how best to manage the needs of all road users when managing risks of this nature and in this particular instance it has been decided that in the interests of public safety and to ensure that traffic flow along this very busy section of the inter-harbour route is not unduly compromised, it would be appropriate to temporarily close this section of the cycle path.
Whilst any disruption to the current seafront cycle path and pedestrian pavement area is unfortunate, the Department must address the risk issues presented to it and does not consider that these requirements are unduly onerous for cyclists or pedestrians and have the added benefit of ensuring that two-way traffic flow can continue to operate along this major arterial route and also ensure that vehicles can access the temporary car park in relative safety.
Subsequent phases of this project, along with works associated with a nearby project, will include the requirement to dig up certain sections of the main road, cycle path and pedestrian path and therefore arrangements for all road users will need to be further reviewed again at a later date.
Contact Information:
Karl Guille, Traffic and Transport Services Manager
Environment Department
Tel: 243400
