- New residential parking spaces announced for Great Union Road
- Action taken by the parish following criticism of the lack of spaces in town parking schemes
- Issuing of residential parking permits temporarily suspended to ease pressure on town parking zones
EXTRA spaces could be created within a St Helier residential parking scheme which was recently criticised for being overcrowded, if parishioners give the proposals the go-ahead.
The parish has also temporarily suspended issuing parking permits in three main town centre zones, and another warden to police the scheme has been employed on a three-month contract.
The measures were introduced after more than 100 people gathered at a parish assembly last month to complain that not enough spaces were being provided within the residential parking scheme.
Following the meeting, which was organised after it was announced that the price of an annual permit for the Cheapside, St Mark’s and St Thomas’ zones was to rise by ten per cent from the beginning of this month, a public steering group was set up to look at the scheme.
And this week the St Helier Roads Committee agreed on the creation of an extra ten spaces in Great Union Road, in the St Thomas’ zone. The extra spaces will be created in months if there are no objections from parishioners or the Transport Minister.
St Helier Deputy Jackie Hilton, who called last month’s meeting at the Town Hall, said she was delighted that the spaces had been agreed in principle and that she hoped the spaces would be available before the end of the summer.
She added that she hoped to visit the St Thomas’ zone with John Stievenard, the parish’s director of technical services, to see if any more spaces could be identified.
Deputy Hilton said: ‘It’s fantastic news for the people who live round there. It will alleviate some of the pressures that residents have been complaining about.
‘I’m grateful to the parish for acting so promptly. I’ve been assured that these spaces will be put to the top of the agenda.’
Darren Cleworth, customer service manager for the resident parking scheme, said that since the parish assembly they had suspended issuing permits until at least 5 June and that another warden had been temporarily employed to cover someone on long-term sick leave. This brings the total number of wardens policing the scheme to five.
Currently, there are 284 spaces within the residential parking scheme in the St Thomas’ zone, 121 in Cheapside and 152 in St Mark’s. However, 300 resident permits have been issued for St Thomas’, 117 in Cheapside and 161 in St Mark’s. Islanders can be on the waiting list for a permit for up to 18 months.
Mr Cleworth said problems arose when people moved away from the area but kept their permit to avoid parking charges.
‘It is difficult for the parish to police that,’ he said. ‘We are reliant on people being honest with us and reliant on neighbours tipping us off. This is a community scheme that does not make money.’
- 284 spaces within the St Thomas’s parking zone
- 121 spaces in the Cheapside zone
- 152 spaces in the St Mark’s parking zone
However…
- 300 permits have been issued for St Thomas’s
- 117 permits have been issued in Cheapside
- 161 permits have been provided in St Mark’s
