Tuesday 04 August 2015
Media Enquiry from Guernsey Press:
Can the department please answer the following questions regarding St Martin's Primary School.
-Have plans been submitted to install a gate at the back of the parish community centre that would allow those children coming from St Andrews on the school buys to disembark at the centre, walk through the gate and cross from a section of road directly opposite the school?
-Has the school or the Active Travel Unit submitted the plans?
-Does the department think this is a good idea and if it does when would such an application be granted?
If you could get back to me at some point tomorrow, it would be greatly appreciated.
Environment Department Response:
Plans have been drawn up and submitted to the Planning Department for a gate and path to be installed on the St Martins school premises. The plans are for the gate to be located opposite the rear entrance of the St Martins community centre on La Route Des Coutures. This is to assist not only children using the bus from the area surrounding the former St Andrews School, but local residents who wish to walk their children to school.
The plans have been submitted by States Property Services on behalf of the Education Department, having worked closely with head teacher Cate Mason, Reverend Mike Keirle from St Martins Community Centre and the Environment Department's Active travel Unit.
The Active Travel Unit feels that the idea of a pathway into the School will encourage others to walk. It has spent a significant amount of time talking to the School and other businesses in the area to try and find safer solutions for the School children to get to and from School and to encourage parents to walk or cycle with their children. This path is part of a larger plan to make the roads around the School safer.
The gate/pathway will be open for a short period before and after school AM and PM start and finish times, but will be closed at all other times for security reasons. The gate will be manned by a School Special Constable whilst it is open.
Contact Information:
Colin Le Page, Principal Traffic Officer (Strategy and Projects)
Environment Department
Tel: 243400
