Parishioners in leafy Grouville were left puzzled over May half term when images of a vivid red road marking began circulating online – prompting some to question whether the photos were real or AI-generated, while others joked it looked like an F1 racing track.
The giant red stripe – a road safety initiative painted near Grouville School – appeared along Rue De La Haye Du Puits, leaving residents bemused and enraged, with many taking to social media to vent their concerns.
A white line and pedestrian symbol were later painted over the bright marking.
The road marking did not require planning permission, according to Roads Committee minutes from Grouville. The parish has defended the new road feature.
The initiative has been described as looking like a “river of blood” by some islanders while others questioned whether it was real or AI-generated when pictures first popped up on their timelines.
Others described it as a “mess”, “atrocious” and a “monstrosity”.
Concerns have also been raised about a lack of consultation regarding the changes.
However, other islanders defended the safety initiative, with one person saying they regularly walked down the road and thought it was a “great idea”.
Parishioner Jennifer Bridge said: “When I initially saw the photos I questioned whether it was real and I had to drive around and see it for myself.”
Miss Bridge said that she and a number of others in the parish had been “on the case” regarding road safety and “putting children first” for some time.
“I am fully supportive of creating safe roads to school for children,” she said.
But Miss Bridge said if green had been used for the stripe – a colour she believes is the norm for mixed cycling and walking routes – and if proper consultation and notice had been given, then the new lane, which she said “appears to have come out of nowhere”, may have gone down better with the public.
If it deters one person from getting injured then it is money well spent
Grouville Constable Mark Labey
Defending the road safety initiative, Grouville Constable Mark Labey said: “If it deters one person from getting injured then it is money well spent.”
Mr Labey said he was accepting recommendations from a UK report regarding traffic issues around Grouville School. The parish representative said that there had been positive feedback from parents at the school on Monday morning regarding the changes.
Labey also highlighted that three people had died in road collisions since he had become Constable, prompting him to act.
While the Constable admitted that the colour was “bright”, he said that this would dull with time, and he added that the red colour had been chosen as a “warning” sign.
The parish were given many colour choices, he said, but some were too dark for the parish lanes, especially in winter.
The Infrastructure Department, which carried out the works on behalf of the parish, was also contacted for comment.