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Parking at Guernsey's two new colleges will only allow 75% of staff to leave their car there while they work, meaning more will have to find alternatives ways of getting in, including car sharing, cycling, using the bus or walking.
More details have been released on the traffic plans for the Lisia School, which will be split over two sites, at the current Les Beaucamps and St Sampson's High schools.
The Committee for Education, Sport and Culture says that while 85% of staff currently drive to school, that will have to be reduced when the new De Saumarez and Victor Hugo colleges open, as there will only be parking provision for a maximum of 75% of staff.
Staff numbers haven't been confirmed yet for either school site but pupil numbers are going up from just over 700 to around 1,500 at the St Sampson's site, while the Les Beaucamps site will be redeveloped to cater for up to 1,700 people.
Pictured: Deslisle Church, near Les Beaucamps High School, has been bought by the States to help planning for the new traffic management around the larger school.
ESC said the car parking provision on both sites "is in line with the requirement of Planning and Building Control which allow parking provision for a maximum of 75% of staff.
"Currently, approximately 85% of school staff drive to work so with the help of initiatives such as bus travel, car sharing and active travel from the Health Improvement commission, the target of 75% is achievable. School staff will be involved in developing the parking policy."
Concerns have already been raised by people living near the two campuses that traffic problems will arise with the increased pupil and staff numbers.
ESC said ARUP was appointed to carry out a full Traffic Impact Assessment, the results of which are included in the planning application submitted by the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture last week.
ESC said:
"The Traffic Impact Assessment takes into account the potential impact of all future developments in the area and provides advice on transport management to support the redevelopment of both college sites – de Saumarez College on the site of the current Les Beaucamps High School and Victor Hugo College on the site of the current St Sampson's High School. To ensure that transport management solutions are robust, they are based on forecasts of the maximum possible infrastructure demand around the two college sites, including the potential for new housing developments in St Sampson’s in the next few years."
As part of the plans for the redevelopment of both sites, ESC has revealed some routes will be closed to non-residents in order to provide a "safe walking and cycling route for students and alternative nearby drop-off locations are being proposed to allow improved traffic flow for school buses and school staff. On-site drop-offs will be permitted before and after school buses arrive."
School staff and children with specific needs will be able to access the college sites by car.
Pictured: The school plans can be seen at Frossard House.
The planning application is currently available to view in person at Sir Charles Frossard House and college site plans can be viewed online here.
The ‘end of consultation’ date has been extended to allow for extra time over the Christmas and New Year break and it will now close on 23 January 2020.
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