reports

Amherst primary school - safe walking route

Living Streets was contacted by a concerned parent regarding her walk to and from Amherst School via Guelles Lane.   We walked the route both in the morning and the afternoon and made 8 recommendations to the Environment Department's Traffic Section.  This walking audit emphasised the dangers for students in the area owing to the narrow pavements, or lack of pavements and the very heavy commercial traffic. (July 2009)

A Safe Route to the new Baubigny Schools

A power point presentation which outlines the importance of this safe cross country route to the Baubigny Schools for children coming from St. Peter Port.  The presentation highlights the benefits of walking to school and it outlines the six months research undertaken by Living Streets into the ownerships of the lanes and rights of ways.   The presentation was given to the members of the Environment Department, Home Department and Education Department. (April 2009)

Walking to School - making it happen safely

A power point presentation which argues for safe routes to the new St. Sampson's High School and Special Needs School currently being built in the north of the island.  Living Streets is recommending making the main approach roads one way (with traffic calming) in order to provide a wide footpath for students and space for cyclists.  A network of green lanes are being ignored which could provide beautiful safe routes for students approaching from the south. (June 2007)

Oberlands entrance to the PEH hospital

STEPS highlighted the dangers for pedestrians trying to access the hospital via Oberlands. This narrow lane is 35mph and we asked for some sort of traffic calming, a 20mph limit, perhaps a one way system with a raised footpath. The Traffic Committee responded that they were in consultation with the Board of Health about this matter. Nothing has happened. (July 2002)

St. Pierre du Bois - zebra crossing to the supermarket

The lack of a zebra crossing opposite the supermarket was causing problems for locals, particularly those with sight problems. The report was considered by the Traffic Committee and following consultation with the supermarket they agreed to cut an entrance in the wall to allow safe passage. This has not happened because of concerns for sight lines when the bus stops here. Still waiting for a solution. (August 2002)

Ville au Roi Traffic Lights

This report highlighted the dangers of crossing Mount Row at the traffic lights. Submitted to the Traffic Committee and we were assured that when the traffic lights were updated during the 3 year plan, there would be a pedestrian phase installed. This has recently been installed. (October 2002)

A survey of Guernsey's Zebra Crossings

Following the fatality at the Victoria Avenue zebra crossing, STEPS members surveyed every zebra crossing in the island (39) and put forward 7 recommendations. The report was accepted by the Traffic Committee who acknowledged that many crossings were not up to standard, and our recommendations are slowly being implemented. (March 2003 - 48 pages and Appendix)

Douit Lane, Vale

STEPS was contacted by one of its members concerning the dangers for pedestrians walking this very narrow lane (with a douit on one side and granite wall on the other) should they meet a horse rider. The lane was only wide enough for single file walking. We asked that horse riders should be denied access. The report was sent to the Vale Douzaine who declined to help. (March 2003)

Contraflows for cyclists (2-way cycle lanes)

This joint submission by STEPS and the GBG asked the Traffic Committee to consider an experiment on cycle contraflows. The submission was successful and the first cycle contraflow was developed in La Rue a Ronces, Vale. It has now been successfully in operation for some two years and is of great benefit, in particular, for students attending La Mare de Carteret school. (April 2003)

Walking to Rainbow Pre-School at Galaad, Castel

This report highlighted the dangers for a mother walking her children to Galaad Pre-School and La Mare de Carteret Primary School. The route included Route de la Charruée, Hougue du Pommier and Rue de Galaad. We asked for a continuous pavement on one side of the road, which we didn't achieve. But more dropped kerbs were installed and an attempt was made to keep the vegetation of properties cut back. (September 2003)

Amherst Road at the Fosse André junction

We looked at this junction following a request from a member of the public who walked to work every day. The junction is particularly dangerous when crossing from the Fosse André side to access the gate into Cambridge Park side. This junction had already been highlighted in the schools walking audits of both Amherst and Ladies College and the Environment Department assured us that it featured high on the list of those to be looked at. (August 2004)

Salerie Corner

STEPS was contacted by a member of the public about the dangers of trying to cross the road at Salarie Corner. After surveying the area and watching how pedestrians crossed the road it became evident that there was no consistency in where pedestrians crossed and in many cases people were sprinting across the road in between the very fast moving traffic. We suggested 3 possible positions for a crossing. We are still following up on this one. (August 2004)

St. Martin's Carmel crossroad to the PEH

A hospital worker contacted us concerning ways of making her route to work safer. One of the problems was that the footpaths kept petering out and swapping sides, and with no official crossing points pedestrians have to dart across the road in between fast moving traffic, often with poor sight lines. We made several recommendations and it was investigated by Environment but they were unable to justify the expenditure. (August 2004)

Croix du Bois field - child safety around Vale School

The dangers of mothers and children walking along Croix du Bois had been highlighted in the Vale School walking audit because the pavement peters out shortly after the filter junction. STEPS approached the owners of the adjoining field about allowing a footpath to be developed which would join the pavement up to the Vale Church Hall. We were not successful. Croix du Bois has recently been made 25mph (August 2004)

Disappearing Footpaths (pavements)

This two year project involved walking many roads in the island to make a photographic record of problems encountered by pedestrians. One of the major concerns was overhanging vegetation (often with brambles sticking out at eye level), encroaching earth banks and vegetation which encroached at the bottom of hedges. Pavement widths were seriously affected and in many cases at least a foot was lost making it impossible for a parent and child to walk side by side. STEPS produced a power point presentation and invited members of the Douzaine to a meeting. Many of the photographs showed problems some 6 weeks before official hedge cutting periods. Pat Wisher, who produced the power point presentation, was invited to join a working party set up by Deputy Mike O'Hara. It has met once, but little progress has been made so far. (September 2004)

New houses at Maurepas Road, St. Peter Port

STEPS responded to the planning brief on the above development. We objected to this small site being used for housing given its position so close to Amherst School where traffic congestion is already high and access to the site was poor. Since we assumed that the development would go ahead, we asked for a footpath from the Millbrook Estate though the site to Amherst School, thus making it a much safer walk for parents and children. The reply from Environment on this issue seems quite positive. (May 2005)

St. Stephens Hill & Les Croutes

This area near Ladies College is a busy one and concerns had been expressed about the dangers to pedestrians. STEPS members walked the area and made several suggestions for traffic calming and improving sight lines. A report was sent to Environment but we were told that the backlog of work prevented any action for the time being. Small improvements which involved signs and lines were all that we could hope for. (July 2005)

Sandy Hook

Two members of the public sent us a "Liveability Audit" of the area near their home at Sandy Hook. They scored the area 15/17 points out of a possible 50 points. The congestion is due to the Island Shopper. Shoppers arriving by car block the access road for those who want to walk there. Most of this road does not have a pavement and the two way traffic (35mph) tends to move fast because of two very straight bits on the approach to the shop. We sent Environment a report asking for an additional yellow line and the speed limit to be reduced to 20 or 25mph. (December 2005)

Les Petites Fontaines Development Brief

STEPS responded to this proposal for housing. Les Petites Fontaines is one way and the pavement is just 3ft wide. We were concerned about the extra traffic which would result on a route which is used by parents and children going to the nearby schools. We also commented on the proposals for pedestrian routes which took a pedestrian around the perimeter of the site, rather than by a direct route. Environment has listened to our views and made some amendments. (July 2006)