For years, many people have called for an alternative method to paycards, which some say are outdated and inconvenient.
1. Halkett Place (325 fines in 2012)
2. Beresford Street (316)
3. Esplanade (303)
4. The Parade (260)
5. Phillips Street (223)
6. Victoria Street (220)
7. Broad Street (208)
8. St Mark’s Road (204)
9. The Parade, eastern arm (203)
Now Transport Minister Eddie Noel is to lodge a proposition calling for a law change to allow a new parking payment system to cover streets and car parks.
The current law only allows the use of paycards and the automatic number plate registration system, which has been in operation at Sand Street car park since 2012.
If the proposal is passed, the new system could be in operation by the end of the summer.
St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft said: ‘I am very pleased that they are doing this. I have campaigned for getting rid of scratch cards in the past because of the effect it has on the shopper.
‘It is the opposite of user-friendly and I am very supportive of getting the law changed and having a more user-friendly system put in place.’
The new system will mean that Islanders will be able to pay for car parking using an app on their smartphone, which will run alongside the current paycard system.
The app will allow users to buy additional hours of parking on the go, without the need to return to their car.
TTS said that they have learned from the ANPR scheme at Sand Street, and it has helped them prepare to introduce a new law.
Deputy Noel said: ‘I am keen to introduce a flexible parking payment system that will provide customers with a more versatile method of use as soon as possible.
‘It will mean that people will not have to rush back to their cars because they have only paid for a certain amount of hours and they will be able to take their time instead of incurring a penalty.’
The minister acknowledged that this new method of payment would mean a loss in money generated from car-parking fines, but he said that the most important thing was providing ‘appropriate parking for the public’.
Meanwhile, James Filleul, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said that he welcomed the proposal.
‘I think we would like to warmly welcome this move as it will give shoppers more flexibility and allow them to stay in town longer, if they choose to do so. We hope it is the next big step to consigning paycards to the bin of bad ideas.
‘It is hopefully a sign that the Council of Ministers is serious about its plans to rejuvenate St Helier, a key part of which will be making sure that vehicle access is easy and convenient.’
Sand Street car park became the first multi-storey in Jersey to use a ‘park and pay’ system, following a successful trial in 2012.
It has a number plate recognition scheme where motorists pay before they exit the car park – meaning that there are no fines for being late back to your car or for forgetting to put up a scratch card.
Motorists pay a set amount, based on how long they have been in the car park. For example, one hour’s stay costs 74p but staying for eight hours will set you back £17.02.
Islanders can also buy pre-paid tickets to settle their bills at the end of their stay. The system also allows for 15 minutes to exit once you have paid.
Several months after the scheme was introduced, it was revealed that the States had ‘lost’ thousands of pounds because fines were no longer being issued.
THEY have been in existence for more than 20 years and are a way of life for most of the Island’s motorists.
But for some people, scratching away at a paycard before you leave the car has become something of an annoyance.
With advances in technology and parking prices rising, could it be time to ditch Jersey’s unique parking payment method?
In Guernsey, the vast majority of public parking is free. When a States proposal to charge the public to use a car park in St Peter Port was passed in 2014, there was public outrage, with one former politician stating that it was a breach of human rights. There were also concerns about how it would affect the footfall in St Peter Port.
This has been a major issue with some St Helier traders, who argue that a lack of cheap and available parking deters the public from visiting town. With the intense competition from the internet, businesses in Jersey have been venting their anger over the parking situation.
One issue that was highlighted was the lack of parking following the conversion of Gas Place from a long-stay parking zone into the Millennium Town Park.
And other new car parks have been created, including at the former Jersey Brewery site and at Ann Court, where many spaces have been taken away following work on a new rainwater drainage shaft.
Tim Murphy, the owner of Murphy’s Clothing Ltd, said: ‘One of my friends over from England told me that he thought the Jersey parking system was atrocious and that he couldn’t find anywhere to park.
It was his first time in the Island and he thought it was just too complicated.’ Mr Murphy added: ‘I think there should be a better system than paycards, maybe similar to the system at Sand Street.’
Another trader in the area, Grant Longmuir, the owner of car accessory shop Drivers, said: ‘The bottom line is that there is a parking problem. There aren’t enough spaces for the number of businesses in the area.’
On the issue of paycards, he said: ‘The system needs rethinking. We need a simpler system, like the ones at the Airport and the Waterfront. We could maybe even make some car parks free once a month to get people into town.’
Sammy Gomes, the owner of Atlantique Seafood Bar, said: ‘There is simply not enough parking. We have to come in on our bikes. Minden Place is always full. ‘I don’t know why they didn’t put an underground car park at Gas Place. I would like to see parking payment system in this area similar to the one at Sand Street.’
Judith Doyle, the manageress of Mark Howe Florists, said that although she doesn’t drive, she does believe that the situation could be improved, and that she was confused with paycards.
THE Constable of St Helier called for the paycard system to be scrapped last summer.
Simon Crowcroft said the cards, which have been used for about 20 years, were outdated and could be having an impact on town business.
And he has called for the automatic payment system being used in Sand Street multi-storey car park to be used in other car parks.
‘I believe progress is being made, but only very slowly. I don’t understand why TTS haven’t rolled out the scheme trialled at Sand Street across any of the other car parks. The sooner it’s replaced, the better.’
‘The current system is not only confusing but it forces people to hurry back to their cars. I want to people to be able to have the time to socialise and shop, or whatever they would like to do in town, without having to worry about how long they have left.’
He added: ‘The other day, I went for a swim at St Brelade’s and saw some tourists debating with each other on how to use paycards. In the end they ended up having to ask me, which is not what we want.
‘It’s also very wasteful using cardboard and other materials to produce the scratchcards, which are thrown away straight after use.’
Currently, most car parks in Britain use a pay and display system and many offer alternatives such as pay by phone or pay in advance on the internet.
