FIVE candidates answered questions on everything from traffic to hopes for the future of the young at last night’s St Saviour hustings.

The candidates are seeking to be elected to two seats, and there will be at least one new politician as Senator-elect Alan Breckon was a district representative.

About 50 parishioners attended the meeting, chaired by Constable Peter Hanning, to hear Glenn George, Cliff Le Clercq, Deputy Kevin Lewis, Christine Papworth and Tracy Vallois answer a variety of questions.

During their opening speeches all of the candidates spoke about the traffic problem caused by commuters and people on the school run. They were asked by Langley Park resident Margaret Rogan what they would do calm traffic there.

Mr Le Clercq suggested that a chicane or speed bumps could be put in place to slow down vehicles that speed up and down the hill.

JDA candidate Ms Papworth said that there was no quick fix solution. She said she could not promise action but would work to try to find a solution.

Ms Vallois said that she had walked around Langley Park in recent days and had almost got knocked down six times. She said that, if elected, she would work with the Transport department to put something in place.

Deputy Lewis said that he had seen ‘white van man’ driving so fast up there that ladders had almost come off the top of the vehicles. He said that residents had complained of cracks in their homes due to heavy traffic.

Mr George said that residents of many other places, including Bon Air Lane, Wellington Road and Victoria Cottage Homes, had expressed their concerns. He urged the Langley Park residents to get a petition together. ‘I shall be the first to sign it for you,’ he said.

Sean Renouf wanted to know what the candidates would do to restore the faith of Islanders in the States and make the Island’s government more efficient, effective and accountable.

Deputy Lewis said there was a need for more openness. He wanted a restriction on spending now that there is a recession and to ensure that no unnecessary projects are approved. ‘We need to keep everything calm,’ he said.

Mr George said: ‘We have to be firmer on belt-tightening on non-essential spending.’ He said that the Harcourt plans for the waterfront should be dropped and replaced with an underground car park and walkways to the waterfront.

Mr Le Clercq said that the move to ministerial government had led to decisions being made too quickly after replacing the old committee system, which was too slow. ‘We have to get a system that is more in balance,’ he said.

Ms Papworth said that she backed her party’s moves for full implementation of the Clothier reforms and a general election for the post of Chief Minister. She said that she would support moves for more open government and wanted to make sure that everyone was registered to vote to ensure more accountability.

Ms Vallois said to the questioner: ‘Like you, I have lost faith and trust in the States.’ She supported a far-reaching freedom of information law. The reason she was standing as a Deputy was to try to improve the communication between the politicians and the electorate.

• Picture: The candidates face the audience at the parish hall. Picture by David Ferguson (00602425)