Groups needing road closures to face new fees

Islanders and organisations needing road closures will soon be charged for the work, the States of Guernsey has said.

From 14 September the States said the costs of processing, coordinating, signing and checking works on public highways would be taken "more directly" from those who needed the measures through new fees.

The States said the cost would depend on the length of the road closure, signage needed and the location.

The new approach would bring Guernsey closer to "the position in many other jurisdictions", officials said.

Mark Brockway, senior traffic officer for Traffic and Highway Services, said temporary traffic management was "an important service that allows essential works, private works and events to take place safely on or near the public highway".

"However, providing that service takes officer time, coordination and physical signage work, and those costs are currently largely met by the public purse," he said.

"The new charging system is intended to recover those costs more fairly from the applicants who require the traffic management, while also encouraging works to be planned and coordinated as efficiently as possible."

The States said a new digital application for temporary traffic management would be set up to reduce manual processing and make the process simpler.

Until then it said organisers of special events would continue to apply for traffic management through the existing special event process and discussions with Traffic & Highway Services.

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