Residential and Business Parking Scheme, Stopford Road Area, St. Helier: fees (P.47/2004) - comments (2)

STATES OF JERSEY

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RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS PARKING SCHEME, STOPFORD ROAD AREA, ST.  HELIER: FEES (P.47/2004) – COMMENTS

Presented to the States on 20th April 2004

by the Environment and Public Services Committee

STATES GREFFE

COMMENTS

1. A trialresidents' parking schemeended in November2003 when the former Committee established the now permanent St. Helier Residential and Business Parking Zone(StopfordRoadArea)byincludingitin the Road Traffic ( St. Helier ) (AmendmentNo.13)(Jersey)Order2003.
2. T he projet has not mentioned the fact that the formerCommittee,at its meeting on21st October 2003, decided to reducetheproposed level ofchargefollowing representation madeby certain Membersand a small number of permit holders. The Committee reduced the proposed permit fee from £600/year to £300/year(£150per 6 months).
3. R e cently, a questionnaire was circulated to all 168 existing permitholders.86responses were received. The results showed that 87% of respondents are "reasonablysatisfied", "satisfied" or "verysatisfied" with the current scheme. Over half of respondents thoughtthe cost of theschemewas reasonable whereas 20% thought it was"veryexpensive".
4. A t its meeting on 8th April, 2004, the Committee, with the Constableof St. Helierand Deputy Fox in attendance, considered the future of the current scheme. In the lightof the responses, the scheme has to be deemedsuccessfulandso the Committee decided to maintain the current permit cost of £300 per year, slightly reduce the numberof permits available, provide 6 moreresidents' spaces andreduce the numberof visitor spaces accordingly.
5. T h e permit cost of £300 peryear(£150per 6 months) is fairand reasonable and compares favourably with the proposedcostintheprojetof £260 peryear, particularly astherewillbefewer permits issued.
6. T h e current residents' parking schemehasshown that if residents' parking schemes are to be introduced throughout theTown,notallresidentsofSt.Helierwho would wish a permit will be able to have one, if a reasonable opportunity of finding a spaceis to be maintained. There is insufficient on-streetspaceto accommodate all residents' vehicles. It is inevitable that those residents displaced by the introduction of further schemes will continue to use thepublic car parks for their parking needs. Similarly, displaced shoppers, visitors and commuters will still require parking spaces. Contrary to that stated in the P.47/2004, there remains a need to provide public car parks and hence a needto maintain a healthy Car Park Trading Account. Ideally, there shouldbe greater numbersof car parks to which the public has access andfewer exclusive private car parks.
7. A nyexpansionofresidents' parking schemes will require similar studies prior to implementation and would in turn likely have animpacton the Car Park Trading Account. In view of the fact that there is insufficient on-streetspace available to accommodate all residents and that many residents will have no choice butto park in public car parks, it seems reasonable that those residents who acquire a permitshould pay a fair rate.
8. In summary, the majority of current permit holders are generally content with the scheme and the Committee hasresponded to permitholders' genuine commentson design and price of the Residential and Business Parking Scheme in the Stopford Roadareabydecidingnot to raise the cost of a permitand allowing thepermanentscheme to continue to operate.The States, therefore, should reject theProposition.