TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES
THE CLASSIC AND VINTAGE MOTOR RACING CLUB’S APPLICATION TO HOLD
THE FESTIVAL OF MOTORING 2015
Purpose of the Report
To obtain a Ministerial Decision regarding the approval of road closures and traffic restrictions for the purpose of holding the Jersey Festival of Motoring racing events between Thursday 04 June and Sunday 07 June 2015.
In addition, to enable an instruction to be sent to the Law Draftsman requesting preparation of an Order under Article 2 of the Motor Vehicle Races (Jersey) Law 1946 and Article 2 of the Entertainments on Public Roads (Jersey) Law 1985 (in relation to the Activity Arena).
Background
The Classic and Vintage Motor Racing Club (the Promoter) has submitted details of its proposed events for this year’s Festival of Motoring. The events are enabled by Order of the Transport and Technical Services Minister under Article 2 of the Motor Vehicle Races (Jersey) Law 1946.
The Promoter has again requested to close Victoria Avenue on two consecutive evenings. The event traditionally only had one event on the Avenue, an historic sprint taking place on a Friday night. Last year the Promoter closed the avenue on the Thursday night so that a Kart Race could be staged, utilising all running lanes on Victoria Avenue and the lay-bys. This supplementary event proved successful and widely accepted by the public and has been requested once again.
This year the promoter has requested the use of the Sorel Point loop road for an additional Karting event. This event will be run in conjunction with the Jersey Kart Club, and will take the place of the event on Saturday 02 August previously approved in the Road Racing (Karts) (No 2) (Jersey) Order 2014. This has the support of the Connétable of St John.
As per last year, the Promoter will provide the public with a broad based programme of motoring events with the inclusion of an ‘Activity Arena / Circuit’ course at West Park on Sunday 07 June (see attached plan) along with other static displays on La Route de St. Aubin above the Lower People’s Park. The aim of the Activity Arena / Course is to give motor clubs in the Island a space in which to carry out live displays rather than racing.
The Festival has the support of the Connétable of St Helier, who has given permission for both the ‘Upper’ and ‘Lower’ parks to be used as static display areas. The Promoter is consulting and co-ordinating with the Honorary Police, Emergency Services, TTS Parking Control, Liberty Bus and Fort Regent. The Promoter will also be carrying out a face to face letter drop to residents and businesses affected by the event, notably the Grand Hotel, etc.
The Festival, including the Activity Arena, has been risk assessed by the Motor Sport Association’s (MSA) Director of Motor Sport Safety and has received full MSA’s Public Liability Insurance cover.
Road closure details are as follows:
- Victoria Avenue Kart Race: Thursday 04 June (7pm to 11.30pm): Victoria Avenue will be closed from West Park to First Tower junction. The Promoter also wishes to use Lay-bys 1 and 2 to make part of the proposed race course. Lay-by 1 will be closed from 6am until after the event (around Midnight). Lay-by 2 will be closed from 2pm on the afternoon of the event with all remaining vehicles removed from the lay-by after 5pm. The promenade and cycle track will be unaffected.
- Victoria Avenue Sprint: Friday 05 June (7pm to 11.30pm): Victoria Avenue will be closed from West Park to First Tower junction. The Promoter also wishes to use Lay-bys 1, 2 and 4 for the parking and display of race vehicles and lay-by 4 for vehicle turning which will require their closure. Lay-by 1 will be closed from 6am until after the event (around Midnight). Lay-bys 2 and 4 will be closed from 2pm on the afternoon of the event with all remaining vehicles removed from the lay-by after 5pm. The promenade and cycle track will be unaffected.
- Westmount Hill Climb: Saturday 06 June (9.30am to 6.30pm): Westmount will be closed from St Aubin’s Road to the entrance of Overdale Hospital.
- Sorel Point Loop Road: Saturday 06 June (8.00am – 5pm): The Sorel Point Loop Road will be closed to allow a junior kart race to take place.
- Mount Bingham Hill Climb: Sunday 07 June (9am to 4pm): Pier Road will be closed from its junction with the northern arm of South Hill to Mount Bingham; Mount Bingham from its junction with Pier Road to Green Street. Also closed are South Hill, Fort Regent Road and South Hill Car Parks.
- La Route de St Aubin Active Arena: Sunday 07 June (8am to 6pm): La Route de St Aubin will be closed from the King George V Homes to its junction with Kensington Street. The West Park slip lane will also be closed, as will Pierson Road.
Discussion
- Victoria Avenue Kart Race (Thursday Night): Following a meeting with the promoter regarding the need for this additional evening event on Victoria Avenue, it appears that the Kart race is seen as a development of the event which would lead to a more extensive road race in St Helier (perhaps along La Route de Liberation). Obviously this request represents a significant escalation in terms of the impact of the event on the travelling public (though not necessarily on TTS resources) which may go beyond what some consider to be reasonably acceptable.
- Victoria Avenue Sprint (Friday Night): Due to the closure being in the evening (after PM peak demand which ends prior to 7pm) traffic delays will be less significant than, for example the Battle of Flowers. Nevertheless although the Public is now familiar with the Sprint’s traffic impact, experience from previous years indicates that disruption will be significant into the late evening.
- Sorel Pint Loop Road: This is a TTS Main road and its closure will cause no disruption to passing traffic.
- Westmount Hill Climb: The Parish of St Helier administers Westmount Road and its closure will cause little disruption.
- Mount Bingham Hill Climb: While Mount Bingham is actively used by both commuter and commercial traffic during weekdays, its closure on a Sunday should not present significant traffic issues, with the main impact being the loss of the coastal route to tourists and the loss of access to Fort Regent.
Discussion - Activity Arena:
- Traffic: Creation of the Activity Arena entails closing La Route de St Aubin between First Tower and Kensington Street which is the same as last year. In addition the West Park slip lane and Pierson Road will be closed. This will necessitate northbound traffic being diverted up Kensington Place and Kensington Street on to St Aubin’s Road.
The likely impact of these arrangements is to create westbound congestion at the right turns on Victoria Avenue (at First Tower and Rue du Galet) and eastbound congestion on the right turns off La Route de St Aubin (at Rue du Galet and at First Tower). There will also be delays for vehicles heading northbound via Kensington Place.
- Emergency Services: The Emergency Services have been consulted regarding the closure of La Route de St Aubin (between First Tower and Kensington Street) and Pierson Road and have indicated that they are comfortable with diversion arrangements (i.e. Kensington Place and Kensington Street on to St Aubin’s Road).
- Bus Services: Buses will be unable to serve stops between West Park and First Tower (normally every 5 to 10 minutes). The following routes will be affected in both directions: No. 27, 8, 9, 12, 12a, 14, 15. However, it is worth noting that the same arrangements last year did not cause Liberty Bus any significant operational issues
- Access to Residences: During the closure access to premises will be maintained via First Tower, this includes access to West Park Apartments. As part of the closure of Pierson Road residential parking will be suspended from 6pm on Saturday 06 June
- Other Events: There are no other events planned for this day in the vicinity of the Festival of Motoring
Conclusion
The Festival of Motoring is an established and publicly accepted event, the introduction of a circular Activity Arena on La Route de St Aubin four years ago, and of the Thursday night Kart Event in 2014 have been well received by the public. During the event there were no adverse traffic comments received by the Department and as such officers see no reason why the events cannot take place again in 2015.
Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to approve the Classic and Vintage Motor Racing Club’s event programme and the preparation of an Order.
Reason(s) for Decision
The proposed road closures and associated traffic management being reasonable and justified.
Resource Implications
TTS Officer and Law Draftsman’s time.
TTS’ Road Signs and Markings section to provide assistance to the Honorary Police in putting out traffic signs prior to the start of the event and collecting / storing traffic signs after the event. The Promoter is charged for this service on a cost basis.
Action Required
Technical Assistant to forward a copy of the Ministerial Decision along with an Instructing Memorandum and the Promoter’s Application to the Law Draftsman.
Written by: | Technical Assistant, Traffic and Infrastructure |
Approved by: | Director, Engineering and Infrastructure |
Attachments: | Plan of West Park Activity Arena |
Y:\Minister\2015\Ministerial Decisions 2015\MD 0018 Festival of Motoring 2015 Part 1\WR Festival of Motoring 2015 Part 1.docx
gov.je