La Rue de la Vallee, St. Mary: Pedestrian Facilities: Provision

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A decision made 11 October 2013:

Decision Reference: MD-T-2013-0091
Decision Summary Title :	Provision of Pedestrian Facilities at La Rue de la Vallée, St Mary		Date of Decision Summary:	09 October 2013
Decision Summary Author:	Assistant Engineer – Transport Policy		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Provision of Pedestrian Facilities at La Rue de la Vallée		Date of Written Report:	09 October 2013
Written Report Author:	Assistant Engineer		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: To provide a roadside footpath on La Rue de la Vallée between the new development on Fields 561 and 562 and La Route de St Marie, St Mary.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the installation of a flush coloured surfacing “virtual” footpath along the length of La Rue de la Vallée from the development at Fields 561 and 562 to the junction with La Route de St Marie.
Reason(s) for Decision: To enable safer access to village facilities by local residents.
Resource Implications: The footpath and bollards will be installed by TTS staff funded from the Planning Obligation Agreement.
Action required: Assistant engineer to procure bollards and surface dressing and arrange installation.
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

La Rue de la Vallee, St. Mary: Pedestrian Facilities: Provision

TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

PROVISION OF PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES AT RUE DE LA VALLÉE, ST MARY

Purpose of the Report

To provide a roadside footpath on La Rue de la Vallée between the new development on Fields 561 and 562 and La Route de St Marie.

Background

As part of the Planning Permit issued for the development of Fields 561 and 562, a Planning Obligation Agreement was made between the Planning and Environment Department and the Developer of the site to provide funds for the construction of a flush coloured surfacing “virtual” footpath on the side of the road between the development and St Mary’s Parish Church.

Discussion

St Mary’s Parish have instigated an initiative, St Mary’s Village Improvement Project, to improve the village roads in a way that will encourage motorists to drive in a manner that will allow for safer walking and cycling around the village without compromising the character of the unique setting. The Department are working with the Parish to aid them with the work on the improvement project. The residents of the Parish are extremely concerned about the dangers of fast moving vehicles and the lack of safe walking routes between key focal points in the village centre.

A road side footpath will help the residents of both the new development and existing parishioners in the area walk to a number of the Parish facilities.

Various options were looked at to provide a pedestrian area along the east side of La Rue de la Vallée for the northern most 350m of this road; that is from the junction of La Rue de la Vallée and La Route de St Marie, to the point where the “coffin route” running along the southern boundary of the Development site emerges on to La Rue de La Vallée. The pedestrian area would be defined by coloured surfacing and bollards at intervals forcing cars to drive in the non- pedestrian area, unless there is an oncoming car. If there is an oncoming car the vehicle at a slow speed would manoeuvre on to the pedestrian area between the bollards. In accordance with the Highway Encroachments (Jersey) Regulations 1957, the bollards are adequately illuminated by means of reflective strips. The spacing of the bollards is crucial to restricting vehicle speeds. This arrangement has been successfully introduced on Jambart Lane in St Clement.

Due to the horizontal alignment of La Rue de La Vallée at a point just to the south of St Mary’s Churchyard, there is insufficient visibility to enable allocation of road space to pedestrians without traffic management measures of some sort to ensure vehicles do not meet on this bend. A number of options were looked at to achieve this. The northern end of La Route de la Vallée, from the property known as La Douaithe, is to be made one way northbound. Residents will still be able to exit their properties in both directions but will have to return from the south. This option maintains two-way traffic for most of the length. Conflicts will be reduced at the junction of La Route de la Vallée and La Route de St Marie and while visibility for northbound vehicles to the left is poor, visibility to the right is excellent.

Letter drops were undertaken in the area and a drop in session was held in the Parish Hall on 23 April 2012. A minority of residents were against the scheme and would like the road closed off. This is not practicable for other road users, such as farmers needing access to their fields. The scheme has the support of the Connétable.

Conclusion

A flush coloured surfacing “virtual” footpath can be created on the eastern side of La Rue de la Vallée, St Mary within the existing road space, with the northern most section being made one-way northbound.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve the installation of the flush coloured “virtual” footpath along the length of La Rue de la Vallée from the development at Fields 561 and 562 to the junction with La Route de St Marie.

Reason(s) for Decision

To enable safer access to village facilities by local residents.

Resource Implications

The footpath and bollards will be installed by TTS staff funded from the Planning Obligation Agreement.

Action Required

Assistant engineer to procure bollards and surface dressing and arrange installation.

Written by:	Assistant Engineer – Transport Policy

Approved by:	Director of Transport

Attachments:	Plan

Y:\Minister\2013\Ministerial Decisions 2013\MD 00 Pedestrian Facilities La Rue de la Vallee St Mary\WR Pedestrian Facilities La Rue de la Vallee St Mary.docx