Source: Channel Islands – States of Alderney
Media Release
Date: 4th November 2024
GSC rolls out Action Plan following major traffic survey
Alderney’s General Services Committee at its meeting of November 1st unanimously agreed to implement a phased traffic improvement programme following comprehensive consultation and a public survey.
Survey responses covered issues such as parking, the number and size of vehicles, policing and abandoned vehicles. Proposals have been presented in consultation with the States Works Department and Bailiwick Law Enforcement.
Now GSC has approved short, medium and long-term plans which will be communicated to the public as they are rolled out.
Initial short-term action includes:
· Identifying areas for improved road markings and signage.
· Trial pedestrianisation of the lower end of Victoria Street (Les Roquettes to Ollivier Street junctions) on four consecutive Saturday mornings from December 14th to create a better shopping experience for residents and visitors. This will serve as a “soft opening” before an additional trial will take place during the island’s busier periods – the community will have the opportunity to feed back to the States.
· Continuation of Problem Orientated Policing (POP) instigated by local Police to educate the public on how traffic and parking missteps can be resolved with better understanding of the consequences.
· A proposed ‘Active Travel to Work’ campaign to include messages such as ‘Walk to Work Day’ and ‘Cycle to Work Week’ to discourage vehicle usage and town parking.
· Liaison with Alderney’s new Planning Officer to review parking space allocation at new developments.
· A review of recent requests for more disabled parking spaces will be submitted to GSC.
Meanwhile, disincentivising the import of large private vehicles is being implemented by the Policy and Finance Committee via the fees ordinance and by subsequent legislation.
Medium-term action agreed by GSC will look to address the problem of abandoned vehicles and the Committee will liaise with Bailiwick Law Enforcement to conduct average speed checks using recording devices in areas where the speed limit is less than 35mph, and use this data to consider installing physical deterrents to speeding.
In the longer term, proposals are being considered for a permit parking system for residents in order to distinguish between residents and consumers where there is a mix of commercial and residential properties in St Anne town. The permit system will seek to limit long-term parking in the inner and outer town areas to a maximum of 28 days, after which a vehicle would be considered abandoned.
The biggest concerns from the 267 survey responses, which represent 503+ driving licence holders and 405+ drivers of vehicles, were the increase in larger vehicles (73%) and the issue of abandoned vehicles (53%).
However, the figures indicate that a number of people who own more than one car per household park their vehicles both on their driveway and on public roads, contributing to congestion in St Anne’s residential streets.
The States has worked collaboratively with its associated partners to understand the community’s views and the Traffic Improvement Programme seeks to provide solutions to well evidenced issues through a manageable progressive programme.
Ends
States of Alderney media enquiries:Alistair.Forrest2@gov.gg