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1240/5(8224)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES BY THE CONNÉTABLE OF ST. LAWRENCE
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 1st APRIL 2014
Question
In view of the Minister's responsibilities under the Loi (1914) Sur la Voirie to maintain main roads and prevent any encroachment onto them, will the Minister, following a number of landslides onto main roads around the Island (and in particular, onto Mont Felard in St Lawrence when the main road was blocked for some months), have formal discussions with the Minister for Treasury and Resources to progress the idea of enabling loans by the States to landowners to enable them to undertake remedial work to either prevent encroachment onto main roads or to remediate encroachment?
Answer
The Minister for Transport and Technical Services has responsibilities under the Loi Sur La Voirie I also have restrictions which preclude me from acting in the event that a landslide occurs from land in private ownership. In this instance it is the responsibility of the landowner to repair the landslide and not the Highway authority. Under the Loi sur la Voirie (1914) the Connétable also has powers to require the owner to remove the collapse even though it may be entirely due to natural causes.
When land slips occur from private land on the public highway my officers meet with the landowners to encourage them to realise their responsibilities and to persuade them to undertake the works as quickly as possible. This can often be a protracted period due to the potential cost of remedial works that the land owner faces.
The Transport and Technical Department's (TTS) responsibility is to ensure that the road is safe for the public to use and this can mean road or lane closures for the period from the collapse to the completion of the works to rebuild the slope or wall. In some situations this can result in long delays and inconvenience to the public.
I am happy to commit to discussions with the Minister for Treasury and Resources and revert back to the Connétable with the outcome of those discussions.