Work by the Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited and the Jersey Electricity Company on Mont du Ouaisné – the only main road leading to and from the bay – will leave residents stranded from 9 am to 4.30 pm from next Wednesday to Friday 26 March.Every afternoon the contractors will fill the trench and reopen the road, and they will also provide access over the weekend.And the process will be repeated in September when the parish are due to start resurfacing work on the road leading to Ouaisné, which is not on any bus routes.Nigel Godfrey, the landlord of The Old Smugglers Inn at the foot of the hill, said that the road closure meant he would have to open late during the week, and would miss out on the lunchtime trade.He said that the residents were very concerned about the road closure.
The 80 or so families who lived at Ouaisné would have been able to get out through the neighbouring Les Ruisseaux private estate, said Mr Godfrey, but the estate’s residents had blocked the move.
He added that some years ago, residents of the estate had used the main road when their own road was closed.The Constable of St Brelade, Max de la Haye, said that emergency services vehicles would be able to get down the hill during the works if necessary.
In a letter to residents, he apologised for the disruption and for the short notice.Mr Godfrey said that while the Constable had done all that he could, the road closure would still cause disruption to the pub business.’The residents are concerned about it,’ he said.
‘It means they are not going to be able to get out from nine in the morning until about half past four.
There are people with young children and elderly people, and my view on it is that I want the thing done and out of the way.’I think, in fairness, that the Constable knows how difficult it is for us.
I know it has been difficult for them to sort it out.’
