26/05/2026
St Sampsons Response
FULL/2026/0698 Site: Leales Yard Address: Bridge Avenue, Vale
Planning Application – Comments
Ref: FULL/2026/0698
Site: Leales Yard
Address: Bridge Avenue, Vale
Submission from: Karl Guille, Planning Committee Lead for St. Sampson Douzaine
Address: Chambre de la Douzaine, Le Murier, St Sampson
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 07781 116108
Date: 23 May 2026
General
St Sampson Douzaine welcomes measures undertaken to prioritise redevelopment of the former Leales Yard site and notes that the application to demolish a section of road frontage buildings along The Bridge and in Commercial Road together with the er****on of improved fencing will assist with this initial phase of work.
Regarding the proposed new access road into the site and the associated measures for pedestrians and bus users, the Douzaine does wish to raise some concerns both from a road safety and traffic management perspective.
It is recognised that a new access road to the site is essential to ensure that vehicles can safely enter and exit the area without having to drive through the busy Bridge parking area. Although temporary in nature, it should be acknowledged that the proposed changes to the roundabout and location of existing bus stops will, in all probability, be in place for several years.
Proposed pedestrian facilities
The existing mini roundabout is already a complex junction with relatively high numbers of vehicles approaching from all three principal arms; namely Vale Avenue, North Side and The Bridge. Currently vehicles exiting from the Bridge parking area slip road largely rely on the courtesy of drivers heading northbound to allow them to exit safely.
The creation of a fifth arm to the junction will certainly add to the complexity of determining right of way, especially during peak times, and it is for this reason that the Douzaine has raised road safety concerns relating to the proposed creation of an informal crossing point right at the head of the proposed new access road.
Reference is made in the Traffic consideration paper to the provision of other courtesy crossings on The Bridge. However, the existing ones are set back several metres behind the stop line to enable drivers to consider pedestrian and vehicle movement risks separately. Similar arrangements are also in place in St. Peter Port at Salerie Corner and at the Cambridge Berth / Weighbridge. It should also be recognised that all existing pedestrian crossing facilities at the northern end of The Bridge by the mini roundabout are laid out as formal zebra crossings, again set back from the stop lines to allow the risks associated with pedestrian and vehicle movements to be separated.
The proposed new access road into Leales Yard is a two-way road facilitating heavy goods vehicle movements and is to be located within an already complex mini roundabout handling high volumes of traffic. Whilst vehicle movements into and out of the site might be minimal during the demolition phase, the walking route is heavily traversed by pedestrians.
Accordingly, the proposed creation of a courtesy crossing at the head of the proposed new access road is not considered to be the best solution in terms of pedestrian safety. Whilst it is recognised that pedestrians generally prefer to follow as direct a route as possible, it is important to ensure their safety in this area and in the opinion of the Douzaine this could be better achieved by installing a formal zebra crossing set back from the junction or, as an absolute minimum, a properly marked courtesy crossing (using different colour tarmac or paving).
Proposed relocation of bus stops
The proposed relocation of the primary northbound bus stop to an area adjacent to the junction with New Road where there is adequate space for a bus shelter to be installed is supported, together with an adjustment to the location of the existing zebra crossing. However, it should be recognised that traffic exiting New Road will be temporarily delayed whilst passengers board or alight buses.
Given the distance from the north of The Bridge to New Road, it is understandable that an additional bus stop is proposed in Vale Avenue. However, it should be noted that at this location there is inadequate space for a shelter or for bus passengers to wait without forcing pedestrians into the road. If frequently used, it could also cause traffic congestion in both directions as buses stop to allow passenger to board or alight unless some of the on-road parking at the southern end of Vale Avenue is removed.
It is therefore important that consideration is given to mitigating any traffic congestion that might arise during this phase of the work by reviewing existing parking arrangements in Vale Avenue. Perhaps now is the time to speak to Guernsey Electricity or other landowners about off-road parking opportunities in the area.
Conclusion
In the longer-term serious consideration will need to be given to amending and improving the existing parking and road layout of the Bridge frontage and it is to be expected that all relevant opportunities to assist in this process will be accommodated within future phases for the development of Leales Yard.
In summary, St Sampson Douzaine is supportive of the proposed initial measures to aid the much overdue redevelopment of Leales Yard subject to the important road safety and traffic management concerns highlighted above.
