Monday 04 November 2013
Media enquiry from Nick Mann, Guernsey Press:
There is a planning application in from Public Services to keep the traffic lights at the junction of Longue Hougue and Bulwer Avenue permanently. I understand this is at the request of the Environment Department - so could the department explain why it wants to retain the lights? I believed they were only installed because of the extra traffic as a result of the airport work which is now drawing to a close - in May last year Environment said that 'there was currently no intention of retaining these signals' - so when did it decide they were needed? How would it respond to people who feel misled about this (I accept that the department said this could change if the longer term use of Longue Hougue became more apparent, but we still have no clear direction or decision on what waste facilities are going there i.e the MRF could be elsewhere)?
I have also asked PSD for a response.
As the application is in the public domain I would like a response today.
Environment Department's response:
The temporary signals were subject to a condition requiring PSD to remove them at the end of the airport project. However before proceeding with the removal going ahead it was felt a review of their operation was sensible. Properties and businesses in the immediate vicinity were consulted and the majority of the businesses considered the signals (once the mobile temporary signals had been replaced with the fixed temporary signals) had proved very effective and asked for them to be retained. Guernsey Police also supported their retention stating that the signals had contributed to improved road safety. The proposal quite simply means the lights would not be removed.
The Board noted the above information at a meeting held on 13 August and agreed there was merit in allowing an application to keep the signals to come forward which planning application would enable public input. If approved the application would set aside the condition to remove the signals thus rendering them permanent.
ENDS
