Deputy poses 'one-way' to tackle town “traffic carnage”

Monday 13 May 2019

A St. Helier Deputy is pushing to make a temporary one-way system a permanent fixture on Green Street in order to tackle “traffic carnage."

Deputy Russell Labey will be asking his fellow States Members to vote in favour of making the route that links Havre des Pas with town, which is currently closed to two-way traffic due to roadworks, permanently one-way next month.

Outlining his proposals, Deputy Labey says that the one-way system currently in place “has been a revelation” because, he says, it has sparked “a transformation in the quality of life” of the area’s residents.  

In a report explaining his idea, he quotes from an email sent from a constituent living in the area stating that a "huge environmental improvement that was immediately felt” after the roadworks forced the change. Detailing the benefits they have felt, the resident notes how motorists have no longer been “forced to mount pavements", celebrates there being “no road rage”, and even says, “you can hear the birds singing!"

Pictured: The proposition centres on whether Green Street should stay one-way after the roadworks finish.

Prior to the temporary one-way system being put in place, there had been fears that the change would cause problems.

However, Deputy Labey notes that the dire predictions of traffic chaos resulting from a one-way Green Street have not materialised”, and the re-routing of the outbound no. 1 bus “to everyone’s surprise has not had the disastrous consequences foretold.”

For Deputy Labey, there are in fact a number of benefits to re-routing the bus journey, including more conveniently placed stops for those who have been working and shopping in town as well as “elderly and infirm residents” of Haut du Mont on Pier Road and of Bingham Court and Rope Walk.

He adds that the matter was discussed at “a full house” meeting of the Havre des Pas Improvement Group in November of last year and that it was only objected to by one person - “one who was sceptical but would go with the majority, and the rest fully in favour.”

Pictured: The matter will be discussed in the States Assembly.

This, the Deputy states was “an astonishing result, indicative of the desperation to end the traffic carnage on this road.”

Concluding a report on his plans, Deputy Labey writes: “The majority of residents want this change, the roadworks have improved their lives – how often is that ever said?  

“The temporary measures have proved that this can work to the benefit of the area. It’s time to listen to people’s vision for their own neighbourhood and act.”

The proposition will be debated at meeting of the States Assembly on 4 June.