Wednesday 28 May 2014
Media Enquiry Open Lines Column, Guernsey Press:
Dear Sir
I am looking for a little clarity on whether a crossing is an official crossing or not. Last Saturday, my wife and I decided to venture into Town to get a little retail therapy, parked on the Albert Pier, and proceeded to head towards the crossing from the seafront towards the Town Church. This is where the assumption comes from, we assumed it was a crossing. My wife and I reached the central point after being waved across by an approaching car, and were quietly discussing that we considered that it should be made to look more an 'official' courtesy crossing, when a taxi driver, slowed down, only so he could wind down his window and inform us rather abruptly 'oi! This isn't a crossing you know' and continued on his way around to Church Square. We were courteously waved across by the following vehicle, and I was so incensed by the taxi driver's ignorance that I decided to challenge his actions, and question his customer service skills. His response was 'I have just had to stop at the traffic lights at that crossing, do you expect me to stop here too?' and then drove off mumbling indistinguishable utterings - presumed to be unsavoury or profane.
I do feel that there is an accident waiting to happen here, so it should be addressed, for locals and visitors alike.
So a few points here:
1. Is the crossing from the Albert Pier to the Town Church really a crossing?
2. If it is not, then it should be made impassable, or noted as such.
3. If it is, then it should be noted as such and made more prominent as a courtesy crossing.
4. Whatever happened to common courtesy within our service industry?
5. Regardless of the status of the crossing/no crossing debate, the grumpy little taxi
driver should keep his opinions to himself, you never know where your next fare is coming from.
Environment Department Response:
Thank you for providing the Environment Department with the opportunity to respond to the complainant's letter.
The crossing point in question has been the subject of numerous reports and investigations over the years and remains the single busiest 'unofficial' crossing point in the Island, both in terms of pedestrian movements and vehicle throughput.
At some point in the past the chain to which your correspondent refers was reinstated across the point at which pedestrians cross but it is understood that it was quickly removed when a number of pedestrians simply ignored the barriers and in attempting to straddle the chain, they tripped and fell into the road. This of course highlights the fact that the unofficial crossing at the Quay is situated firmly in the desire line for and minds of pedestrians using the Albert Pier and who wish to get to the High Street, Arcade or Market. Both of the existing signalised crossing points are within clear eyesight of The Quay (one at the Bus Terminus and the other by the Crown Pier) but are often ignored.
It is understood that a previous attempt some twenty or so years ago to formally control the crossing at The Quay with a signalised pedestrian crossing was abandoned when it inevitably caused significant traffic delays in the area. Any proposals for a zebra crossing would almost certainly cause similar or even greater traffic disruption and would need to be considered as part of an overall assessment of the management of pedestrian and traffic flows along the Town seafront and within the framework of the new Transport Strategy.
With regard to the alleged comments made by a passing taxi driver, there is an official complaints procedure that your correspondent can follow if he/she would like to make contact with the Department's Senior Passenger Transport Officer on Tel: 202228.
Contact Information:
Karl Guille, Traffic and Transport Services Manager
Environment Department
Tel: 243400
