£500,000 found for eastern cycle track
Friday 25th September 2009, 2:57PM BST.
Deputy Labey argued that the cycle track would be good for Islanders’ health
WORK on an eastern cycle track from town to Gorey will start next year after States Members backed a proposal to fund the project with £500,000 from the car park trading account.
Despite lodging comments arguing against the proposal, ministers relented and supported Deputy Carolyn Labey’s proposition – their second U-turn of the Business Plan 2010 debate, following the agreement to back plans for extra funding for adult respite care.
Deputy Labey said that the cycle track would be good for Islanders’ health and would help reduce commuter traffic, besides being good for visitors and children. She said it was an accepted part of several States policies, including the Integrated Travel Plan, Safe Routes to Schools, Keeping Jersey Special and the Rural Strategy – but that ministers had nevertheless refused to fund it.
There was opposition from the Constables of Grouville and St Saviour and Transport Minister Mike Jackson, with the final vote, 41 to two with two abstentions.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
JOIN US ON...
Facebook and Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Got a story? Get in touch
KIT 4 CLUBS
Win a share of £10,000
2012 is the year of the London Olympics and to celebrate this great event the Jersey Evening Post, in association with sponsors Ogier is giving all sporting clubs a chance to win a share of £10,000.
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
I cannot believe that there are not more pressing issues to spend money on. Only a small minority of Islanders will benefit from this. It will only improve the health of those who take up cycling as a result of this initiative. Those who already cycle from the east may have a more pleasent journey but it will not immprove their health. I doubt the parents who drive their children to school will change their habits and cycle now.
Report abuse
This is great news, I love cycling but the roads are deadly. Half a million semms entirely reasonable for a track to Gorey, certainly it compares favourably to 2.3 million for repair to the avenue that aren’t necessary.
Report abuse
This is excellent news and a very good way to spend money, the west cycle route is often very busy especially with commuters, hopefully the east route will follow this trend. I am just wondering what route the path will take and if it will all be off road?
Report abuse
God help us if we need money for more important things, I,m sure the parish of Grouville will help us out as it was thier Deputy thats wasted this money
Report abuse
He he he he he !!! frivolous spending, he he he he !!! what recession, he he he he !!!
Report abuse
Another article in today’s paper notes that money might be found to fund an additional 39 nursing positions for the island’s health services.
Perhaps the half million pounds earmarked for this frippery of a cycle path could be better used to fund another 10 nurses, thereby benefiting everyone in the island community?
Once we have taken care of basic, urgent, needs then we can consider the luxury of cycle paths.
Report abuse
6) Magnolia Man. The £0.5 million for the cycle track will presumably be a one-off cost. If you used it instead to create more posts you would have to pay these people every year, not just once. I’m not arguing for or against the cycle track but if you want to use the money for more nurses it will cost a lot more than £0.5 million.
Report abuse
This is great news and I am not a cyclist!
Not only will it be a great facility for those who are,and hopefully also pedestrians and those using such things as mobility scooters etc.,it will help to remove a lot of potential accidents waiting to happen off our already crowded roads.
As the bicycle is not an option as a means of transport for a great many people it is never going to replace the car in enough numbers to be “Alternative Transport”.
It is a sad fact that our Island roads are not,contrary to the tourism adverts,that suited to cyclists, and particularly those who are amateurs at the activity or who believe that they can take on the traffic wholly devoid of safety equipment or any kind of regard for traffic signals,rules of the road, or one way systems!(Like the suited gent devoid of any safety equipment who I nearly collected as he sped down Sand Street wholly oblivious of me exiting the car park,obviously in his haste to get home to find out if he was a lottery winner!)
On our narrow roads, no matter how fit, a cyclist cannot sustain a steady speed over distance(Particularly when on an incline)and occupies the same road space as a small car.
It is also a sad fact that accidents “Happen” and right or wrong if it’s between a cyclist and a car it is more likely to be the cyclist who ends up in Hospital!
So those of you who feel the money would be better spent on nurses (£500,000 is not enough to do what is necessary in that regard)you are in a way helping to cut nursing costs by building this track and removing a significant number of potential accident victims from our roads.
Anyway with modern machinery such as mini diggers and back hoes,and if you mobilize latent workforces such as those available at La Moye,those on Community Service, out of work Construction industry professionals,
Construction industry students, Military trainees,and civilian volunteers,it is amazing how you can keep costs down and achieve a great deal.The rehabilitation of the inland waterways in the UK being a prime example of what can be achieved by these means!
“More bang for your buck”!
And why stop at Gorey? How about a route to the North,and in some of our narrower lanes and black spots maybe farmers and landowners might be persuaded to allow cyclists and pedestrians to share the usual tractor path they leave at the edge of the field if “Right of Way” laws were adjusted to avoid regular usage establishing a right of access.
As for ongoing upkeep, I’m sure those at La Moye would appreciate ongoing days out,and there are apparently quite a few candidates for Community Service orders who could use the fresh air and discipline.They might even enjoy the experience and learn something useful!
Report abuse
£500,000 could fund the salaries and allied costs of ten nurses for a year.
The cycle track can wait until Jersey plc is no longer in deficit.
Report abuse