La Mare de Carteret primary school and sixth form centre to trial school street scheme
- La Mare de Carteret Primary School and The Sixth Form Centre will trial a school street scheme from 8 June to at least 6 July
- Rue des Français and parts of Rue du Galaad will be closed to most vehicles during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times on weekdays
- The trial follows seven road safety concerns in five years, including two near misses involving parents with young children
- Traffic & Highway Services will monitor the trial before proposing a potential nine to 12-month official trial to the Environment & Infrastructure committee
- The scheme aims to promote walking and cycling and create safer routes for vulnerable road users as part of Guernsey's Integrated Transport Strategy
La Mare de Carteret Primary School and The Sixth Form Centre will begin a feasibility trial of a school street scheme next week, in partnership with Traffic & Highway Services.
The informal trial will run from Monday 8 June until at least Monday 6 July, during which Traffic & Highway Services will monitor usage and operational times of the school street.
The department will then present proposals to the Environment & Infrastructure Committee regarding the potential to progress to an official nine to 12-month trial.
The school street scheme involves closing a road en route to a school to most vehicles during peak drop-off and pick-up times. This promotes the use of alternative transport for students, including walking and cycling, and aims to create a safer, healthier and more pleasant environment for everyone on their journey to and from school.
The school street area will stretch through the entirety of Rue des Français and along the eastern section of Rue du Galaad, from the junction with school access to the junction with Rue a Ronces and Route de la Hougue du Pommier. These sections of road will be closed to most traffic on weekdays between 8.15am to 8.40am and 2.45pm to 3.15pm, except for pedestrians, cyclists, buses, emergency vehicles and those accessing properties.
The implementation follows seven separate road safety concerns in the last five years regarding vehicles encroaching footpaths or not stopping at crossings. Two of these incidents were near misses involving parents with a young child.
The initiative forms part of Traffic & Highway Services' ongoing efforts to improve road safety and accessibility for those who are most vulnerable, as part of the States' Integrated Transport Strategy.
Paul James, Traffic and Highway Services road safety officer, said: "We're pleased to see such momentum towards implementing the School Street scheme across the island.
"With two educational institutions currently based at the La Mare de Carteret site, this latest informal trial will allow for a safer journey to and from school for a larger proportion of young islanders, their families and school-based staff.
"The School Street schemes also increase the expanding network of safer routes across the island that vulnerable road users can be confident using as part of their journeys, especially at peak times."
Alison Elliott, headteacher at La Mare de Carteret Primary School, said: "In partnership with Traffic & Highways, we are pleased to be able to champion the launch of the La Mare de Carteret School Street trial, which supports our ongoing commitment to the safety, health, and well-being of our entire school community.
"We hope that this trial will create a calmer, safer environment that will transform the streets surrounding our school into a welcoming space that actively encourages families to choose walking, cycling, or scooting. Active travel not only boosts physical health but also ensures our children arrive at their classrooms energised, focused, and ready to learn."
Kieran James, principal of The Sixth Form Centre, said: "While this initiative is understandably aimed at benefitting the Primary School Pupils first and foremost, we fully support facilitating and encouraging safer active travel and reducing congestion around our site for Sixth Form students as well.
"Given the later start and finish times of The Sixth Form Centre, the impact for students, parents and carers picking up and dropping off should be negligible. Our student Active Travel team is particularly keen to welcome this new School Street prior to an event they are organising in July - at which they will be sharing young people's experiences of local roads with our deputies and asking for change."
Q&A
Q: When will the school street trial begin and how long will it last?
A: The informal feasibility trial will run from Monday 8 June until at least Monday 6 July. If successful, Traffic & Highway Services will propose an official nine to 12-month trial to the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure.
Q: Which roads will be affected and during what times?
A: Rue des Français and the eastern section of Rue du Galaad will be closed to most traffic on weekdays between 8.15am to 8.40am and 2.45pm to 3.15pm. Pedestrians, cyclists, buses, emergency vehicles and those accessing properties will still have access.
Q: Why has this school street been proposed?
A: The scheme follows seven separate road safety concerns in the last five years regarding vehicles encroaching footpaths or not stopping at crossings, including two near misses involving parents with a young child. It forms part of efforts to improve road safety for vulnerable road users under the States of Guernsey's Integrated Transport Strategy.
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