Vehicular access through Coronation Park

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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES BY THE CONNÉTABLE OF ST. LAWRENCE

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 30th APRIL 2013

Question

Will the Minister advise whether vehicles are permitted to drive through Coronation Park in St Lawrence and, if they are permitted, when that permission was granted and by whom?

If such permission does exist, will he also advise –

1. How park users are made aware that vehicles will at times be driven through the park?
2. Whether there areany restrictions on the use of vehicles?
3. What safety procedures, if any, are in place to prevent accidents involving members of the public, particularly children?
4. If there are safety procedures, when they were last reviewed and what, if any, changes were made following review?
5. Whether vehicles are restricted from any area of the park, particularly the children's play area?
6. Whether the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956 is applicable to those who drive in Coronation Park and if it does not apply, what legislation, if any, covering the use of vehicles does apply?

Answer

I can confirm that vehicles are permitted to drive through Coronation Park. The Transport & Technical Department's staff and on occasions the Café' staff, are allowed to park their cars in the park as this frees up valuable space in the small car park for visitors.

Clearly works vehicles are required in the park for the various gardening operations undertaken by the team based there.

Maison des Landes and other special needs groups have permission to drive into the park allowing wheel chair users safe access to and from the vehicle

The owners of No's 1 and 2 Montrose Villas benefit from numerous contractual rights of way over Coronation Park. These contractual rights extend to vehicular rights of way to and from their properties and are perpetual.

1. Park users are made aware of vehicles in the parks by various signs. At both exits from the small children's playground there are signs warning parents that vehicles use the driveways. There is also the same sign warning parents as they cross from the paddling pool to go to the playground. In addition there is a sign on the main driveway which warns drivers that children are crossing and restricting vehicle speed to 5mph.

2. Vehicles belonging to the general public not included in the earlier part of my answer are not allowed in the park and as I have already said vehicles are restricted to 5 mph.
3. The main throughway for children crossing the driveway is between the paddling pool and the small children's playground. At both these junctions kissing gate' barriers prevent children from running straight on to the driveway without stopping. The warning signs that I referred to earlier are on these kissing gates.
4. We are continually reviewing safety precautions and are currently looking at whether we can improve the signage warning the public that vehicles have access to the park.
5. Vehicles are restricted to the main driveways, although the works vehicle will drive where work requires.
6. The Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956 does not apply to those who drive in Coronation Park. Instead, it is the Policing of Parks (Jersey) Regulations 2005 which regulates that activity