MORE than 500 people have signed a petition opposing proposals to introduce a trial one-way system in St John’s Road.
The scheme, which was announced last week and was expected to be introduced in August, would make the lower section of the road – between Parade Road and the southern end of St John’s Road – northbound only.
As with all petitions in the government’s e-petition system, it will receive a response from ministers if it reaches 1,000 signatures and will be considered for debate in the States Assembly if it hits 5,000.
William Moir, who started the petition, grew up in the area and still lives locally.
As well as having concerns about sending traffic to Parade Road, he said: ‘Talking to residents at the meeting, the general consensus, whether against or for the plans, was that while most agreed something needed to be done to improve the current road layout, there were problems with the suggested plans.
‘Personally, I would like to see engagement with the residents of New St John’s Road and those of neighbouring roads so that we can produce a more harmonious plan to make the section of road safer without potentially compromising safety elsewhere.’
One resident, Mike Graham, who lives in the area, supports the trial. He said: ‘As far as I’m concerned, [the road is] very, very dangerous.
‘I have stood on that pavement talking to a friend who lives in one of those houses and nearly had my backside knocked off because someone mounted the pavement.’
So far, there have been seven collisions in St John’s Road this year, according to the government’s response to a freedom of information request. There were nine collisions in 2022, five in 2021 and 2020, and ten in 2019.
Mr Graham added that he supported the trial, and that the analysis would need to include input from residents.
He added: ‘We should give it a trial. We should try this thing and see if it works. We should get everybody together and talk about the results.
‘I think we should all just calm down give it a try and see what the results are. When the trial is over, we need to have a meeting, and have everybody, not just politicians, there.’
