Repairs to St Aubin cycle path (FOI)

​Request

This is the tenth anniversary of the JEC ruining the surface of the cycle path that runs across St Aubin's Bay when they laid a new electricity cable.

After years of emails to the JEC to ask them to put this right without success, I finally resorted to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to find that the JEC had been charged £100,000 towards repairing and keeping the cycle path in good condition by the infrastructure department!

This has not happened, the path is deteriorating and despite countless emails to the infrastructure department it remains in an appalling condition especially around first tower.

I believe the £100,000 charge was a states decision with a recorded reference number, should this not have been debated again if the funds were syphoned off for some other purpose? If it is the case and the money has been used elsewhere I believe the JEC deserve an apology and a refund, those that made the decision should be held to account.

Response

In 2007 the JEC reinforced its western electricity supply network with the introduction of a 90KV cable circuit from Queens Road via West Hill, St Aubin’s Inner Road, Tyneville Lane, St Aubin’s Bay Promenade (mostly along the cycle lane) to the Airport. The civil works were carried out by the JEC’s subcontractor Vannie Ltd.

The condition of the cycle lane prior to the JEC’s works was less than optimal with significant reflective cracking from the underlying concrete slab joints. However, in the light of the poor quality of the surface reinstatement provided, the department of infrastructure (the ‘department’) instructed the JEC to carry out remedial works along the cycle lane to make the pavement fit for use.

As part of negotiations with the JEC in relation to a second phase of their 90Kv network extension the JEC agreed to provide further financial compensation (£100K) in recognition of the cost impact to the department regarding the previous project.

This compensation was for general use and not tied to a commitment to spend it on the cycle lane on St Aubin’s Bay Promenade, which to this day remains fit for purpose.

The JEC were consulted on how the money would be spent and it was agreed that it be used as a contribution to the funding of the department’s commercial buildings cycle track extension to Harve de Pas which was completed in 2011.

This work was part of an ongoing strategy to provide cycle improvements for those living to the east of town and create an alternative route (other than Mount Bingham or the Tunnel, etc.). Please note that the cycle route works were not the subject of a State’s decision.

The second phase of JEC works was the subject of a Ministerial Decision, MD (MD-T-2010-0131) which is available at the following link:

Ministerial Decision: MD-T-2010-0131 

Since this time the department has introduced new legislation (the ‘Road Works and Events (Jersey) Law 2016) which gives further powers to ensure that road and cycle infrastructure is not negatively impacted by road works. We remain committed to improving cycling infrastructure in the future.