05 April 2006
Pedestrian improvements for Conway Street
Amended scheme to go ahead
Following recent public consultation, a scheme to breathe new life into Conway Street and to improve the connection between the town and the waterfront, has been approved by Senator Freddie Cohen, Minister for Planning and Environment with the support of other members of the Urban Task Force. But the scheme that will now go ahead has been amended by the Minister in direct response to public feedback.
The news that the scheme will go ahead has been welcomed by Chair of the Urban Task Force, Connetable Simon Crowcroft “The improvement of Conway St is long overdue. I have received representations from businesses in the street that have been suffering operationally from the narrowness of the pavements and the inability of potential customers to look in shop windows, as well as from tourists who find this gateway to the town centre very difficult to use. There have been some serious accidents to pedestrians due to the inadequacy of the pavements and crossing points and on grounds of improved safety alone the scheme is to be welcomed. This new phase of the Street Life programme will link two important urban spaces - the new Broad Street square and Liberation Square - and will make a real difference to the lives of residents, businesses and visitors.” said Connetable Crowcroft.
The key elements of the scheme - including the widening of pavements along entire length of Conway Street on both sides and three new ‘table-top’ junctions to calm traffic and to provide new crossing points – have all been retained, but there have been some amendments made as a direct result of the comments received during public consultation.
The Minister for Planning and Environment, Senator Freddie Cohen determined that the most controversial element of the scheme – involving the relocation of disabled parking spaces from Conway Street to Hope Street and Dumaresq Street – had to be changed as a direct result of public and political feedback. People were concerned that the alternative provision was not convenient enough for where they needed and wanted to go – mainly to the banks and the Post Office, and to Liberation Square. So the disabled parking spaces that will be lost from Conway Street will now be relocated to Broad Street and the Esplanade. The altered parking arrangements have also received the support of the Transport and Technical Services Minister, Deputy Guy de Faye.
“We have listened to what the people affected by these changes have got to say” said P&E Minister Senator Freddie Cohen “and hopefully the changes that we have made will have gone some way to meeting their concerns. There has been general support for improving Conway Street but in so doing, we have to ensure that we don’t unduly disadvantage anyone, particularly the most vulnerable members of our community. The Council of Ministers has stated its intention to help meet the needs of the ageing population in its draft Strategic Plan and it’s important that we take action on the ground to contribute towards this objective. I hope that these new arrangements will enable people with disabilities to access parking in locations convenient to them so that they can continue to retain whatever independence they might currently enjoy.” he added.
Other changes made to the scheme made by Senator Cohen, following consideration of public feedback, include the omission of the proposed ‘feature’ lighting element of the scheme, resulting in cost reduction, of over 10% of the total value of the project, at around £25,000. The possibility of private sponsorship for an ‘entrance feature’ may be explored instead. And it has also been decided to allow access to the proposed delivery bay in Conway Street throughout 24 hours, so that the needs of business can be better met.
Work on the scheme is programmed to start in the middle of April. The pavement on the western side of the street will be widened first and will be complete before the end of May. Work will then halt for the summer months before resuming in September. The entire scheme is due for completion by the end of November.
Pedestrian improvements for Conway Street are one of a series of projects being delivered by the Urban Task Force in 2006.
ENDS
Note to editors
The new Urban Task Force, comprising the Chief Minister and Ministers for Planning and Environment, Transport and Technical Services, Economic Development and the Connetable of St Helier, together with representation from the Chamber of Commerce, is in the process of developing the St Helier Development and Regeneration Strategy. The strategy will be developed during 2006 and will seek to establish policy directions and delivery mechanisms for projects such as the Town Park and key development opportunities around the town. It will also serve to set the strategic direction for public sector intervention in the town arising from the potential generation of receipts on the Waterfront.
In the meantime, a series of smaller scale initiatives, to enhance the town centre, are being developed and implemented by the Urban Task Force and their constituent members, working in partnership.
Contacts
Connetable Simon Crowcroft 811811 and 07797 717933
Parish of St Helier and Chair of the UTF
Senator Freddie Cohen 448469 and 07797 714550
Minister for Planning and Environment and Member of UTF
Deputy Guy de Faye 07797 722260
Minister for Transport and Technical Services and Member of UTF
gov.je