Trial of new School Street to get under way

The School Streets project aims to encourage pupils to travel to school by foot or bike

A four-week School Street scheme is to undergo a trial at Ruette des Delisles, near Les Beaucamps High School in Castel.

School Streets aim is to encourage pupils to travel to school by foot or bike, reducing the number of cars on the roads.

It would run on term-time days only between Monday 22 September until Monday 3 November, and the lower western section of Ruette des Delisles would be closed to motorised traffic on weekdays from 08:00 to 08:30 and 15:00 to 15:30, officials said.

The trial follows the introduction of a School Street near St Martin's Primary School in 2023 following requests from parents, and also ongoing trials near La Houguette Primary School and St Sampson's High School.

Traffic and Highway Services (THS) will monitor the trial, together with the school, before making proposals to the Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure on whether the scheme should be extended to 12 months.

THS road safety officer Paul James said: "We know the start and end of the school day can be particularly busy, so creating safer, calmer routes for students to walk or cycle is a positive step."

Les Beaucamps principal Martin Haimes said: "Managing traffic at the start and end of the school day is always a challenge.

"This trial is an opportunity to see if the School Street model can make that experience safer and more manageable for our students, staff and families."

Homes below the closure would continue to be accessed from Rue des Delisles, and people living above it could use Les Beaucamps Road, the government said.

People could also still reach the school car park via Les Beaucamps Road and the Le Viage car park had been identified as a suitable alternative drop-off and pick-up point for families travelling from the south and west, it added.