Minister makes St. Clement road closure permanent

Tuesday 26 May 2020

The Infrastructure Minister has decided to permanently close a St. Clement road to traffic after a year-long trial to get more students walking to and from school.

From now on, only drivers trying to access premises will be able to use Rue de Maupertuis.

The closure comes as part of the 'Safer Routes to School Programme', which aims to get more students to use a more active way to get to school, while ensuring pedestrian and cyclist safety.

A trial started in April last year, and has now concluded.

Pictured: Rue de Maupertuis, which is used by students of two nearby primary schools and one secondary school.

According to officials, the closure led to a 10% increase in the number school pupils walking or cycling along Rue de Maupertuis during the morning peak hour, and an overall reduction in traffic at the junction of Rue du Maupertuis, Rue de Samarès, and Rue de la Croix.

Meanwhile, more than three quarters (77%) of 250 Le Rocquier students who were surveyed said they felt safer when the road was closed to through traffic. 

St. Clement Constable Len Norman supported the move to make the closure permanent, saying: “We are happy to support this initiative to provide safer routes to school for students and increase the use of more active travelling modes on quiet parish roads.  It had been my intention to call a Parish Assembly last month to endorse the decision, but because of the current restrictions this was sadly not possible.”

The idea was presented to the Parish of St. Clement for review in advance of the decision being made.

Pictured: Infrastructure Minister Deputy Kevin Lewis.

Minister for Infrastructure Deputy Kevin Lewis described the closure as "an excellent example of how a simple road closure can have a positive effect on residents, cyclists and pedestrians".

He added: "The closure of Rue de Maupertuis will allow more students to stay active by walking and cycling to school and – most importantly – do so in safety.”