Safety Concerns Raised Over Narrow St Clement Coast Road

Concerns are growing over a narrow stretch of road in St Clement where buses and cars are frequently forced to mount the pavement to allow oncoming traffic to pass safely.

The section of coast road, between Rocque Bay apartments and Pontorson Lane, has only one pavement and has become a source of concern for residents, motorists and accessibility groups. Community leaders say the situation poses risks to pedestrians, particularly families with prams, wheelchair users and dog walkers.

Liberty Bus said the road is too narrow for two buses to pass each other without one vehicle partially driving onto the kerb. The company noted that its newer buses were specifically designed to be slimmer in width to better suit Jersey’s roads, but challenges remain on the 400m stretch.

Bus drivers are required to carefully judge approaching traffic and road positioning, particularly along the granite wall side of the carriageway where space becomes extremely tight. The company said minor scrapes and close manoeuvres are an ongoing issue, and mounting the kerb is often unavoidable when larger vehicles meet.

St Clement Constable Marcus Troy described the situation as potentially dangerous, warning that pedestrians exiting nearby homes could unexpectedly find themselves in the path of vehicles moving onto the pavement. He said families with young children and dog walkers were among his biggest concerns.

Accessibility campaigners have also raised alarm over the impact on disabled residents. Enable Jersey chief executive Sean Pontin said wheelchair users and people with mobility difficulties already face challenges navigating the island’s roads and pavements, and vehicles mounting kerbs create additional hazards.

Local residents say the issue becomes worse during busy periods, including school pick-up times and evenings when foot traffic increases along the coast road. Drivers often slow down or stop entirely when pedestrians are using the pavement, causing congestion and delays.

Despite the concerns, widening the road may prove difficult. Officials say preserving the character of the coastal area and neighbouring sea-facing properties limits what improvements can realistically be made. However, newer planning policies require wider pavements to be included in future developments, which could gradually improve pedestrian space over time.

Under Jersey’s road traffic laws, driving on a footpath is generally prohibited, although exceptions exist where roads are considered too narrow for vehicles travelling in opposite directions to pass safely.