Residents raise blocked road concerns

The fire service says it is not unduly concerned

Residents in part of Jersey say utilities work which will involved digging up a road should not begin until there is an alternative route in and out of the bay they live in.

People living on Ouaisne Hill say closing the road for much of the day for the next two months could endanger lives by making it harder for the emergency services to get to homes there.

The road is being closed by the Waterworks Company every day between 0900 and 1630 to begin work on connecting homes at the bottom of the hill to mains water.

The emergency services will be able to contact contractors if they need to get down the hill. The path will be cleared for them with what has been described as a "minimum waiting time".

Katrina Ferns, who lives in the area, said it was not just an inconvenience for people who do not work during those hours, but it could put people's lives at risk.

She said that any delay, even of a couple of minutes, was unacceptable because it could make a difference in a fire or if someone was suddenly taken ill.

The Jersey Fire and Rescue Service said it was not unduly concerned and residents should be comforted by the arrangements it has made with the contractors to get through in an emergency.