Thursday 02 January 2020
Considerable work remains to be carried out before final traffic management systems are finalised for the two new Lisia School colleges, the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture has said.
The Committee is concerned that the current perception appears to be that the recently published Traffic Impact Assessment contains what amounts to the final proposals. This is not the case.
Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:
'The Traffic Impact Assessment seeks to inform the planning application process and provide guidance to the Committee as we consider how best to ensure that suitable traffic management systems are in place when the new colleges are fully operational. Since the Traffic Impact Assessment was published there have been many claims based on a misunderstanding that it amounts to the Committee's final proposals on transport around the new 11-18 colleges. It does not. There is much work to be done and we are committed to listening to concerns raised, particularly by residents living near the sites, and acting on them wherever we can.
'Far from expecting all staff and students to get to-and-from school by means other than car, what we are looking for is a combination of modest increase in use of other modes of transport - in line with key aims within the States' integrated transport strategy - and making infrastructure improvements. We remain confident that any concerns around traffic can be resolved, but they also have to be balanced with educational benefits and the educational case for these reforms remains very strong because of the breadth of choice, equality of opportunity and the high quality facilities that will be offered to all students rather than only to some students which is the case at present.' The Traffic Impact Assessment provided detailed analysis and identified specific measures on each site that could help improve access. The assessment will play an important role in shaping work officers within the Education Office are carrying out to develop suitable traffic
management systems for Victor Hugo College (currently the St Sampson's site) and de Saumarez College (currently Les Beaucamps site).
Part of that work will include the creation of traffic focus groups comprised of residents living near the sites and working closely with the Health Improvement Commission's Active Travel Officer.
Steve Foote, Programme Director for the reforms, said:
'Getting the traffic management right for both sites is a clear priority area for the programme and this work will be led and developed by an experienced officer who I expect to have in post imminently. The Traffic Impact Assessment is the starting point for that work, not the end, as we seek to ensure a system is developed that allows traffic to flow around both sites with as little disruption as possible.'
