TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
JERSEY TOURISM APPLICATION TO HOLD THE JERSEY FESTIVAL OF
CYCLING 2014
Purpose of the Report
To obtain a Ministerial Decision regarding approval of road closures and traffic restrictions for the purpose of hosting several events which take place as part of the Jersey Festival of Cycling to be held between Friday 13 June and Sunday 15 June 2014.
Background
The Jersey Festival of Cycling is a weekend event which is being used to promote cycling in the Island and to run alongside a national cycling event, “The Pearl Izumi Tour Series” Final. This event will be televised and will comprise a Hill Climb and Criterium around Gorey. In addition to this there will be a 100km and a 50km Sportive (endurance road ride), a Road Race using the Tour de Bretagne course (last used in 2010), and an Urban Down Hill Mountain Bike Race descending from the top of Gorey Castle to the Pier.
To turn the event into a festival there will be food and concession stalls present on the Gorey Pier all weekend. Tourism has gained the permission of the Harbour Master to use the pier for this purpose. Access to premises on the Pier will be maintained, although parking will be suspended, throughout the weekend.
The event will require significant signage on the scale of that used for similar events such as the Gorey Fete and the Tour de Bretagne. As such there will be large diversions and increased traffic on other main roads as traffic from and to St Catherines / Grouville find alternative routes.
Therefore Transport and Technical Services Department (TTS) has been asked to implement an Order under the Entertainments on Public Roads (Jersey) Law 1985 to enable the necessary road closures, along with a number of other provisions preparatory to holding the event. For the purpose of this Order, Jersey Tourism (Economic Development Department) is the Promoter.
Discussion
Friday 13 June
Event set up
As part of the event the Promoters will require time to set up a gantry across La Route de la Cote along with barriers and hoardings for sponsorship signage, along the route of the course. See Map (A).
The requirement will be for the closure of the following roads between 9.00am and 1.30pm:
- La Route de La Cote (between Gorey pier and Beach Road)
- Coach Park adjacent to Pier
Hill Climb:
This event will involve full road closures around Gorey with the event finishing at Haut de la Garenne. See Map (B).
The requirement will be for the closure of the following roads between 1.30pm and 3.30pm:
- La Route de La Cote
- Coach Park adjacent to Pier
- Beach Road
- New Road
- Gorey Village Main Road
- Le Mont de Gouray
- La Route de la Cote
- La Mont de la Guarande
- La Rue de la Pouclee et de Quatre Chemins
After this event the roads will be re-opened to local traffic to permit members of the public to return home during afternoon and evening peak times.
Tour Series Criterium
This event will require full road closures of the roads around Gorey Village and Gorey Pier for the evening. See Map (C).
The requirement will be for the closure of the following roads between 6.30pm and 10.00pm:
- La Route de La Cote
- Coach Park adjacent to Pier
- Beach Road
- New Road
- Gorey Village Main Road
- Le Mont de Gouray
Parking
All roadside parking along the course will require suspension from 9am–10pm with a residents parking area provided on Gorey Common. Longbeach car park (administered by TTS) will provide space for race related facilities etc. but will remain open for public use. Otherwise ‘off road’ parking along the course will remain available provided cars are in place for the start of the race.
Property access
There will be no vehicular access to properties lining the course during Racing, otherwise vehicle ingress and egress along the course will be managed by Honorary Police and Race Marshalls. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the event where possible under marshal control.
Buses
Between 9.00am -3.30pm, and 6.30pm-9pm Bus No. 1, 1a, 2 will terminate at Beach Road rather than at Gorey Pier, No other services will be affected by the closure. Services will resume to Gorey Pier when the road is re-opened after each closure period.
Saturday 14 June
50km/100km Sportive ride
This event will not require an Order as it will take place on open roads with key junctions controlled by Honorary Police to keep cyclists, pedestrians and motorists safe. It is a large community event with two routes circumnavigating the island to cater to riders ability. There will be no direct TTS involvement in this event.
Sunday 15 June
Junior Academy Road Races
As a prelude to the main road race the Jersey Cycling Academy will run short races on La Route de la Cote between Gorey Pier and Beach Road. This event will take place between 7.00am and 8.30am at which point the course closures will be extended in preparation for the road race (see below).
Professional Road Race (Tour de Bretagne Course)
The road race is taking place within the parishes of Grouville, St Martin, and St Saviour along a 15km course (see Map D) originally used for the Tour de Bretagne in 2010). The Start / Finish line will be on La Route de la Cote at the Start / Finish Gantry used for the Criterium. The road closures are to be in force from 8.30am to 1.00pm with the race taking place between 9.00am and 12.30pm. However, the Coast Road will remain closed to dismantle the Gantry and for the Urban Downhill event, etc. until 10.00pm (see below).
Road Closures
The requirement will be for the closure of the following roads:
- Le Mont de Gouray
- La Route de la Cote
- La Route de le Brun
- Le Mont de la Mare St Catherine
- La Grande Route de Faldouet
- La Rue D'Aval
- La Route de la Hougue Bie
- Le Catillon
- La Hougue
- La Route de la Francheville
- La Rue du Boulivot
- La Rue a Don
- Gorey Coast Road
There is also a requirement to make a number of roads within Gorey Village ‘two-way’ during the closure of the Coast Road to enable egress and ingress of local residents, these being Beach Road, Old Road, Union Road and Gorey Village Road between the bottom of La Chevre Rue (Daisy Hill) and Beach Road.
Resident Access
To provide ingress and egress to residents within the course ‘loop’ (particularly those living in Gorey Village) there will be a number of ‘controlled crossing points’ over the course. These include:
- La Rue de Grouville onto La Route des Cotils and onto La Grande Route de St. Clement.
- La Rue de Grouville onto La Rue des Alleurs (Ghost Hill) and onto La Rue a Don.
- La Cache des Pres onto La Rue des Pres and onto Rue de la Ville Es Renards (i.e. the Coast Road).
- Rue es Philippes onto La Route de la Hougue Bie.
Therefore as the cycle field (the Peloton) passes these junctions (which will be every 20 minutes) there will be an opportunity for traffic to cross the course in a controlled fashion.
In addition residents living along the course (where direct ingress and egress via a ‘controlled crossing point’ is unavailable) will be allowed in exceptional circumstances to drive along the course with police / marshal approval provided that the Peloton has just passed. Vehicles must travel in the direction (clockwise) of the race and leave the course by the first available exit.
Parking
All road side parking along the course will require suspension between 7.00am and 1.00pm. Longbeach car park (administered by TTS) will also be closed to provide space for race related facilities etc. otherwise ‘off road’ parking along the course will remain available provided cars are in place for the start of the race.
Buses
Between 9.00am and 1.00pm Buses No. 1, 1a, 2 will terminate at Grouville Station rather than at Gorey Pier, no other services will be affected.
Sunday 15 June: - Urban Downhill Mountain Bike Race
The Urban Downhill will require the closure of Le Mont De Gouray between Devon Gardens and Gorey Pier between 3.30pm and 8.30pm with the road remaining closed, for event clear up, until 10.00pm.
General Comments
Course Management
All junctions leading to the main course roads will have marshals or Honorary Police in attendance.
Spectators will be permitted to line the route provided that they are not on the course itself or presenting a risk.
In the interests of public safety the Promoter has requested that because cyclists using the course will achieve speeds of over 60 kph, marshals have the power to override the common law provision normally contained in event Orders which guarantees vehicular right of access to premises. This same request occurred in 2010 and was implemented accordingly.
Consultation & Publicity
In preparation for the Tour, under TTS advice, Jersey Tourism has initiated a comprehensive consultation exercise with organisations, churches, businesses and residents etc. located along or within course loops or who are otherwise likely to be affected by the Tour.
Jersey Tourism has also been in contact with the Emergency Services, including the RNLI who operate a lifeboat station at St Catherines, and Liberty Bus. They have also obtained support from affected Parishes (Grouville, St Martin, St Saviour) and the ‘Chef Tenants du Fief de la Reine’ in relation to the use of Gorey Common.
Conclusion
Jersey Tourism and the races organiser have carefully designed the stages and their timings to carefully balance the respective needs of the Jersey Festival of Cycling while minimising the impact on the Island as a whole.
It is also worth noting that the road race course may be used for the Islands Games in 2015, hence this event provides an opportunity for all parties to prepare for it.
Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to sign the Jersey Festival of Cycling (Jersey) Order 2014 as prepared.
Reason(s) for Decision
Further to MD-T-2014-0019, enabling preparation of the Order and following statutory consultations, the proposed road closures and associated traffic management are reasonable and justified.
Resource Implications
TTS’ Road Signs and Markings section have been asked to assist the Honorary Police in putting out / moving traffic signs (both on Friday 13 June and Sunday 15 June) and collecting signs after the event.
Action Required
To notify the Greffier of the States and the Law Draftsman that the Order has been made, forward the signed and sealed Order to the Publications Editor, States Greffe, and request the Greffier of the States to arrange for its notification to the States.
Written by: | Technical Assistant, Traffic and Infrastructure |
Approved by: | Director, Engineering and Infrastructure |
Attachments: | Maps A, B, C, D |