TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
THE JERSEY MOTOR CYCLE AND LIGHT CAR CLUB’S APPLICATION TO HOLD THE ‘JERSEY CAR RALLY’ 2009
1.0 Purpose of the Report
To accompany the signature copy of the ‘Road Races (Motor Vehicle Rally) (No.2) (Jersey) Order 2009’ enabling road closures and traffic restrictions for the purpose of holding the ‘Jersey Rally’ on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th October 2009.
2.0 Background
The Jersey Motor Cycle and Light Car Club (the Promoter) has submitted details of its proposed ‘Paperclix Rally’ for 2009, including a request to use Victoria Avenue as a special stage on the opening evening (between 6.45pm to 11.30pm). The event is enabled by Order of the Transport and Technical Services Minister under Article 2 of the ‘Motor Vehicle Races (Jersey) Law 1946’.
The Promoter has consulted with the Connétable of all parishes within which stages of the Rally are to be held and has provided TTS with signed certificates of support in each case. They have also consulted property owners directly affected by road closures and supplied proof of Public Liability Insurance.
TTS has also held a meeting with the Promoter and representatives from the Emergency Services to go through arrangements for the use of Victoria Avenue; no adverse comments were received.
3.0 Special Victoria Avenue Stage
The use of Victoria Avenue for the Rally has occurred once before in 2007, as a special ‘25th Anniversary’ stage. On that occasion the course extended from West Park to La Rue du Galet.
3.1 The Course
This year the Promoter has proposed a shorter course (see attached Course Plan) that uses the full width of Victoria Avenue between West Park and First Tower, including the west and eastbound carriageways and lay-bys 1 to 4. The aim of using these areas is to create a varied and challenging course that is 1 mile long.
The course as proposed has been approved by the Motor Sport Association and incorporates chicanes throughout its length to prevent excessive speeds. The Rally also operates a scoring system which penalises collisions with obstacles with the aim of avoiding damage to surroundings. In addition, various collision barriers will be used to protect the Department’s fixed assets, such as shelters, traffic signal poles, etc. However £30 million public liability insurance will be in place should damage occur.
3.2 Traffic Management & Access
Total traffic management and road closure measures required will be similar to those implemented for the ‘Festival of Motoring’, with traffic diverted on to La Route de St Aubin at West Park and First Tower. To allow the placing / removing of materials and pre-race safety inspections etc., actual closure times will be as follows:
- From 7am to midnight: Lay-bys 1 to 4
- From 6.30pm to midnight: Victoria Avenue & Promenade, Tynevillle Lane, Paris Lane
To facilitate diversionary traffic flow roadside parking will also require suspension from 4pm to midnight along:
- La Route de St Aubin between West Park and First Tower.
- Gloucester Street, which will also incorporate an emergency lane for the ambulance service.
Access to premises will be arranged on a case by case basis through the Rally’s Stage Commander, however all access to and from St Aubin’s beach will be prevented.
3.3 Materials on Course
In 2007 concern was raised by the Emergency Services that loaded skips had been placed on the carriageways in order to create vehicle chicanes and that that had a major incident occurred these immobile materials could have caused a delay to any response.
This year the Promoter is proposing to use lightweight trestles which can be easily moved by marshals manually if it is necessary to do so. Otherwise the only other notable materials to be placed on the carriageway will be ‘one tonne’ bails located at the ends of the course to prevent vehicle overruns. However, the bails will be staggered to allow emergency vehicles to move through and if needed will be cleared altogether in the event of a major incident out west.
3.4 Spectators
The principal spectator point will be the Lower West Park (administered by the Parish), where a +5m exclusion strip will be placed behind the southern boundary wall to provide a safety zone.
3.5 Traffic Impact
The requirement to close Victoria Avenue will, as in all cases, cause significant delays to traffic diverted on to La Route de St Aubin. Experience from previous years indicates that disruption will be reasonably significant into the late evening.
3.6 Public Car Parking
Due to the closure of lay-bys 1 to 4 a total of 248 car parking spaces will be lost for the day, therefore the Parish has agreed to partially mitigate the impact of this by offering 40 spaces in First Tower Park and a minor number at Peoples Park.
3.7 TTS Resurfacing Works
The Victoria Avenue stage if approved will overlap with TTS’ ‘Stage 2’ resurfacing works which are scheduled to start on Monday 06 October, from La Rue du Galet to First Tower. Although the contractor has yet to be appointed, TTS’ proposed work programme depends on undertaking ‘evening work’ Monday to Friday.
While it might be possible to accommodate both the evening works and the Rally through implementing a larger closure from Bel Royal to West Park, this will represent an escalation in traffic impact and honorary policing requirements and as such is not regarded as a preferred option. However, the cost of standing down TTS’ evening works are twofold, a loss of half to one day’s productivity and an associated increase in ‘preliminary costs’ estimated to be between £1,000 and £2,000.
4.0 Other Stages
The Promoter has submitted details of its remaining route stages which have been approved by the Connétables of each relevant parish (see attached Rally Stage Plans & Schedule).
4.1 Main Road Impact
Of the various main road sections included in this year’s Rally most significant is the closure of ‘La Grande Route de St Clement’ (A5) at various locations between ‘La Vert Rue’ and ‘La Rue de Fauvic’ from 10.45am to 2.30pm on the Friday (i.e. Rally Stage 1). This is a significant closure in that ‘La Grande Route de St. Clement’ is an important trunk road, requiring the diversion of traffic on to the Coast Road, requiring comprehensive advanced signage.
Otherwise stages have been designed to minimise their impact on traffic.
4.2 Public Bus Service Impact
For information regarding the impact on public bus services please see the attached ‘Scheduled Changes to Public Bus Services’.
5.0 Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to sign the ‘Road Races (Motor Vehicle Rally) (No.2) (Jersey) Order 2009’ as prepared.
6.0 Reason(s) for Decision
The proposed road closures and associated traffic management are reasonable and justified.
7.0 Resource Implications
None.
8.0 Action Required
To notify the Greffier of the States and the Law Draftsman that the Order has been made and forward the signed and sealed Order to the Publications Editor, States Greffe, for notification to the States.
Written by: | Streetworks Manager |
Approved by: | Director, Municipal Services |
Attachments: | Rally Stage Plan |
| Scheduled Changes to Public Bus Services |
I:\Minister\2009\Ministerial Decisions\MD 00 JMCLCC Jersey Rally 2009\WR JMCLCC Jersey Rally 2009.doc