Tour de Bretagne 2010 - preparation of Order under Article 2 of the Entertainments on Public Roads (Jersey) Law 1985

JERSEY TOURISM (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT)  

TOUR DE BRETAGNE 2010 - APPLICATION  

1. Purpose of the Report

To obtain ‘Ministerial Decision’ regarding approval of road closures and traffic restrictions for the purpose of hosting two stages of the ‘Tour de Bretagne’ (cycle race) to be held on Sunday 25 and Monday 26 April 2010.   

In addition, to enable an instruction to be sent to the Law Draftsman requesting preparation of an Order under Article 2 of the “Entertainments on Public Roads (Jersey) Law 1985”.  

1. Background

The Tour de Bretagne is one of France’s most high profile annual cycle races with 22 professional teams taking part, including the British national team, (120 cyclists and 280 support staff). The Tour is escorted by the prestigious President of France’ ‘Garde Republicaine’, the only cycle race to have this honour bestowed on it excepting the Tour de France itself.  

In April 2007 the ‘Prologue’ to the Tour de Bretagne came to Jersey and was held on Victoria Avenue. Building on the success of that event Jersey Tourism (Economic Development Department) and the races organiser have received special permission from the President of Brittany (Yves Le Drian) to host, for the first time, two stages of the race outside the frontiers of Brittany. Therefore Transport & 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. 

1. Discussion

The following stages of the Tour de Bretagne will be hosted:

1. Sunday 25 April - Road Race (Étape)

The first stage of the race in Jersey will be a 150km road race taking place within the parishes of Grouville and St Martin along a 15km course (See Map A). The start / finish line will be at Longbeach where there will also be a ‘cycling festival’ with street theatre as well as food and drink stalls etc.  (on the village common).

1. Traffic Management 

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

The Coast Road will be closed between Gorey Village Road and Gorey Pier from 9am through to 5pm.  The remaining roads making up the course will be closed from 12pm (noon) and reopened at 4pm.  

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.

1. 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 of the race and leave the course by the first available exit.

1. Parking

All road side parking along the course will require suspension between 7am and 5pm. 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. 

In view of the suspension of roadside parking, replacement parking sites will be provided although suitable sites have yet to be secured. It is also hoped that ‘off road’ spectator parking facilities can be provided in conjunction with a shuttle service to the cycling festival in Gorey Village.

1. Buses

Between 9am and 5pm Bus No. 1 will terminate at Grouville Station rather than at Gorey Pier, no other services will be affected. 

Monday 26 April – Time Trial (Contre La Montre )

The second stage of the race in Jersey will be a 9.5km time trail taking place within the parishes of St. Brelade, St. Peter and St. Ouen (See Map B). The start point will be at La Braye and the finish point at the Watersplash.

1. Traffic Management 

The requirement will be for closures on the following roads:

• La Grande Route des Mielles
• Le Chemin de l'Ouziere
• Rue de Val de la Mare
• Le Mont Matthieu
• La Ville de l'Eglise
• Rue de la Cour
• La Cache de l'Eglise
• La Route du Marais (Hydrangea Avenue)
• Le Mont Pinel
• La Route des Laveurs
• La Grande Route des Mielles

Roads making up the course will be closed at 9am and reopened at 1pm. All course roads will require a ‘no parking order’ between 7am and 3pm.

1. Resident Access

Due to the nature of this event (there will be up to eight cyclists on this circuit at any one time) no vehicles will be permitted on the courses. However a ‘controlled crossing point’ will be provided over the course, this being along Le Chemin du Moulin (as far as the back of Jersey Pearl) across the junction of Le Chemin de L’Ouziere onto La Rue du Val de la Mare and onto the La Grande Route de St. Pierre.

1. Parking

All roadside parking along the course will require suspension between 9am and 1pm. La Braye 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. There are also quite a number of car parking options available to spectators after the start of the race at La Pulente, Le Mont a la Brune etc.

1. Buses

Between 9am and 1pm Bus No. 12a will terminate at La Pulente Car Park rather than at Jersey Gold. Also the ‘Red Explorer’ route which normally terminates at L’Etacq (retuning via Hydrangea Avenue) will instead return via Route des Landes missing out L’Etacq.

1. General Comments
   1. Course Management

All junctions leading to the main course roads will have marshals or Honorary Police in attendance.  

The race field itself will be proceeded by the French President’s motorcycle escort which will undertake a ‘rolling’ sweep and secure operation at junctions etc. ahead of the race field. Following behind the riders will be team support vehicles and paramedics. Also on the circuit will be motorbikes with camera crews.   

Spectators will be permitted to line the route provided that they are not on the course itself or presenting a risk. However, should a spectator move to an inappropriate location then the motorcycle escort should move out of the way before the race field arrives. 

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 2007 and was implemented accordingly.

1. Consultation & Publicity

In preparation for the Tour, under TTS advice, Jersey Tourism has initiated a comprehensive consultation exercises with organisations, churches, businesses and residents etc. located along or within course loops or who are otherwise likely to be affected by the Tour. Consultation has included direct contact with organisations, churches and businesses. Of particular note are: 

• Stage 1: Businesses along Gorey Pier (no adverse comments received), St Saviours Hospital (they are going to use the event as an opportunity to invite friends and relations to visits on the day), Ransoms Garden Centre (yet to receive comments), Grouville Church (thinking of selling refreshments and turning in to a community event), Gorey Church (not affected due to early service).
• Stage 2: Le Braye Café (open, no problem), El Tico (to close until 1.30pm), Simon Sands (to close until 1.30pm), Line-up Café (unhappy with restricted access during event), The Watersplash (closed, no problem), Jersey Pearl (will reschedule coach trips for afternoon), St. Ouen’s Church (no services).

Affected households will shortly be receiving letters and a press briefing is organised for Tuesday 02 February. 

Jersey Tourism has also been in contact with the Emergency Services, including the RNLI who operate a lifeboat station at St. Catherines, and Connex. They have also obtained support from affected Parishes (Grouville, St. Martin, St. Brelade, St. Peter and St. Ouen) and the ‘Chef Tenants du Fief de la Reine’ in relation to the use of Gorey Common. 

1. Conclusion

In the light of concern expressed in 2007 by the public regarding the traffic impact caused by the weekday closure of Victoria Avenue for the ‘Prologue’ to the Tour de Bretagne, Jersey Tourism and the races organiser have carefully designed the stages and their timings to more carefully balance the respective needs of the Tour while minimising the impact on the Island as a whole. Consequently on this occasion the Tour should in general cause little disruption to commuters and commercial traffic. On the other hand the Tour will cause inconvenience to local residents and disruption to some businesses in the locality, however this has to be seen in the context of the positive publicity that the Tour will generate with economic benefits to the Island as a whole. 

1. Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve in principal the proposed Jersey stages of the ‘Tour de Bretagne 2010’ as constituted and the preparation of an Order under Article 2 of the “Entertainments on Public Roads (Jersey) Law 1985. 

1. Reason(s) for Decision

The proposed road closures and associated traffic management are reasonable and justified in the light of the positive benefits to the Islands. 

1. Resource Implications

TTS Officer and Law Draftsman’s time. TTS’ Road Signs and Markings Gang have been asked to provide traffic cones (+100) and assistance to the Honorary Police in putting out / moving traffic signs (both on Friday 23 April and Monday 26 April) and collecting signs after the event. 

1. Action Required

To forward a copy of the Ministerial Decision along with an Instructing Memorandum and the Promoter’s Application to the Law Draftsman.