Since Connex buses have parked on the Albert Pier a number of public parking spaces have been extinguished will alternative parking be provided at the end of the Albert Pier

2.10   Deputy S. Power of the Minister for Economic Development regarding the Alber Pier parking facilities:

Is the Minister aware that since Connex buses have started to be parked on the Albert Pier, specifically at the Albert Terminal and at the end of the pier, a number of public parking spaces have been extinguished, and if so, will he undertake to provide alternative parking for the local rod fishermen who have traditionally accessed and fished at the end of the Albert Pier?

Senator P.F.C. Ozouf (The Minister for Economic Development): May I ask my Assistant Minister to be Rapporteur for this item please?

Deputy A.J.H. Maclean of St. Helier (Assistant Minister, Economic Development -

Rapporteur):

With the relocation of the bus station from the Weighbridge, Jersey Harbours were asked to assist in finding spaces to accommodate a canteen for Connex and 18 buses. These facilities were due to be located at La Collette. However, this was not possible due to planning restrictions in the area in

anticipation of the Buncefield report affecting the type of businesses which can be located close to

fuel facilities. An area at the end of the Albert Terminal was identified for the canteen with parking in the same vicinity. At the end of the Albert Pier there used to be 2 disabled and 6 pay and display parking spaces. Only 3 of the pay and display spaces have been lost although one is still to be marked up. We are currently working with Connex to maximise the parking area we can offer looking at several different layouts. Bays will then be parked up and public parking areas will be more clearly marked. Further parking is available at the Elizabeth Terminal which can be accessed through the tunnel and a wall further down the Albert Pier and in the waterfront car park as well. As part of our 2008 Business Plan, we will be looking to build on the improvements we have made this year to the Albert Terminal building itself by developing the whole pier between the Albert and the lifeboat station. This will improve the safety of the pier for cars and pedestrians and provide a more fitting welcome to the increasing number of visitors to the Island who are arriving through the Albert Terminal.

1. Deputy S. Power:

My question was largely related to accessibility to the end of the Albert Pier and my question related to parking. My understanding, and I visited it twice, is that there is one handicapped space and no other spaces down there. Is the Minister aware that a lot of residents of St. Helier, particularly those who are retired, mostly men, young chaps on bikes, people in motorised wheelchairs, sometimes go and fish down at the Albert, the end of the Victoria and all get some fresh air and the recent parking of buses has made access to the end of that pier difficult. What does he intend to do about it?

Deputy A.J.H. Maclean:

The access to the end of the pier, at the moment, is more difficult than it has been although there are still 2 disabled parking spaces and indeed, 3 other parking spaces available. Only 3 spaces have, in fact, been lost although the accessibility is certainly more problematical. It is an issue that we are continuing to work on and the Deputy would be interested to know that I have a jolly nice colour picture of what the pier  looks  like and  plans that we have for the future  in terms of

improving both the accessibility and the number of parking spaces as the Albert Pier becomes more and more used with the increase in passenger numbers through the Albert Pier. I am more than happy to share the drawing with him.

2. Deputy S. Power:

Is the Assistant Minister also aware that much as parking has arbitrarily been extinguished adjacent to the Elizabeth Terminal, the perception of the public in relation to the extinguishing of this parking at the end of the Albert Pier is regarded as summary and abrupt and will he undertake to come back to this Assembly as soon as possible with an alternative in terms of parking at the end of the Albert Pier and can he circulate that drawing to all States Members?

Deputy A.J.H. Maclean:

I am more than happy for all States Members to have a look at the drawing. That is no problem at all.  I am also very happy to bring forward suggestions in the way in which we are going to improve the parking  facilities  at the end of the Albert Terminal.   It is, and  I  am sure  Members will appreciate, an extremely difficult situation at the harbour in total, not just the area of the Albert Terminal. Parking is at an absolute premium. There is a shortage of parking. We have a number of constraints around the harbour as a whole that we are attempting to deal with.

3. Deputy S. Power:

Would the Assistant Minister not agree with me that it would be far easier if there were not 18 buses to park?

Deputy A.J.H. Maclean:

The Deputy must surely realise that we are simply being neighbourly to the Transport and Technical Services Department in assisting them with the difficulties in locating their buses. There is parking difficulties around St. Helier as a whole. It is not just at the harbour and clearly, in due course, we hope that we will be able to reach an agreement with the T.T.S. (Transport and Technical Services) that they can move their buses to La Collette or some other location, but for the moment, we are merely assisting them.