Latest news with #Grouville
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Red stripe on rural lane sparks social media storm
Residents in Grouville have complained a new red stripe painted on a country lane is an "eyesore" and completely out of place, sparking a wave of angry comments on social stripe, is part of a road safety initiative to separate pedestrians from vehicles on two roads - La Croix and La Rue de la Haye des Puits near Grouville School - but many locals have said it clashes with the area's natural beauty."It's a monstrosity," said Gerald Fletcher, one of several local residents who have written to the parish constable to complain."This is a beautiful lane used by walkers and dog walkers. Why spoil it with such a harsh, urban-looking stripe?" Social media posts reflect similar sentiments, with hundreds of comments lamenting the visual impact of the paint job. Critics said the stripe detracts from the rural charm of the area and sets a precedent for urban-style changes in the Constable of Grouville Mark Labey defended the decision, citing safety as the top priority."We had a choice between a sandy yellow and a bright red," he explained. "We went with the red because it's a warning colour—and that's exactly what we need."But Mr Fletcher and some other residents have questioned this, claiming there is no evidence of any accidents in the area that has been painted. The move comes after a 2022 government report recommended painted pavement demarcations on roads near schools to protect pedestrians, particularly children. Some parents from nearby Grouville School have praised the new stripe for its clarity and visibility."It's a strong colour, and it's important," said one parent. "The road's pretty narrow, so it helps clearly define where people should be walking. I think it's great. It does what it needs to do."Another supporter added: "It makes people realise there's a path. It separates the road from the pedestrian area - it's simple and effective." Despite the divide in opinion, the aim remains to make the roads safer for everyone. In a written letter to the Constable, residents have said they "totally agree with him that safety is paramount but we would ask him to reconsider the colour".They said they are awaiting a response.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
Jersey eastern cycle path won't be like west, minister says
It would be difficult for a cycle path in the east of the island to replicate the cycle tracks connecting western parishes to town, Jersey's Minister for Infrastructure has said.A recent freedom of information request revealed the States of Jersey has spent nearly £2.5m funding an Eastern Cycle Andy Jehan said recently this money has been spent on "steady improvements" to the Gorey part of the cycle path, including new said work on the Eastern Cycle Network was "progressing well" but acknowledged there was "more to do". 'Safe routes' Previous governments had hoped a cycle track would extend from the east of the island to the centre of the west of the island, there is an equivalent traffic-free path that travels along the south coast from St Aubin into St said the government was focusing on identifying safe routes for people to cycle on as part of an eastern cycle said: "In the longer term, when we look at the sea coast defences then we will be able to do something more substantial. "In the short term we are looking to find ways where we can encourage people to use quiet roads and lanes to get from A to B."He said the infrastructure department was currently working with Grouville and St Saviour's parish road committees to make it easier for people to get from Gorey to St Saviour's said it had also put up signs and made it easier to cycle on Maupertuis Lane. In the 2024 Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, 8% of people who responded said they cycled to work. This was a 2% increase from the year before. Aaron Lappage, who runs a bike shop in St Helier, said he doesn't think much work has been done on the eastern cycle route in said it was easier for commuters to get into town from the west of the island than those based in the should be more, quieter routes for cyclist cycling from the eastern parishes into St Helier, he also suggested that the two roads from St Helier to the east, La Route du Fort and the coast road, each be made one-way. One travelling into town, the other travelling out."We have too many car on the road and that's the thing," he said."In Europe, you get a lot of civil planning being done around the bicycle first. The car doesn't have that first priority, cycling and walking does - that's where you can make a safer network." Peter Hargreaves, a keen cyclist who lives in Grouville, said "not nearly enough" has been done on the Eastern Cycle said there was not enough space in the east of the island to create a separate cycle path, so the government should focus on connecting parish by-roads and also said speed limits on parish roads should be reduced to keep cyclists safe."The injury rate here on the roads is worse even than the UK, it's atrocious, it's appalling and it is unacceptable," he said."People are forced off the road by injuries from being cyclists."
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Red walking paths painted near Grouville school in Jersey
A brightly coloured path designed to keep pedestrians safe has been painted along a country lane near a school in walkways have been painted along two roads La Croix and La Rue de la Haye des Puits near Grouville School.A report published by the Government of Jersey in 2022 stated that traffic measures needed to be made which included painted pavements in the two minor lanes to the south of the Mark Labey acknowledged that the decision could be "controversial" but said but he stands by his decision to "get it done and for it to paint it red". The roads were painted over the weekend during the half term school break. Mr Labey said the road committee discussed a variety of colours but chose red as it symbolises the "colour for danger."He said one of the roads has a dangerous blind bend and added that both can get "very busy at pick up and drop off time". "There have been three road deaths in the parish of Grouville since I became constable and all included pedestrians, which is something I'm not going to ignore that." The constable said he would have preferred to have painted it "slightly less bold", but said it "had to be bold" so people can see it. He added that the brightness will "dull down over time" and that he was "very confident it will work." "If it saves one child, parent or guardian from getting injured it's money well spent". He added that he has received "positive feedback" from the school.
