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2.6 Deputy J.A. Martin of the Minister for Transport and Technical Services regarding the proposed car park on the Ann Court site:
Would the Minister advise Members when he intends publishing the suggested traffic flow around the proposed 850 to 1,000 space car park to be created on the Ann Court site, and whether the proposals are included in the overall integrated transport strategy for the whole Island.
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye (The Minister for Transport and Technical Services):
Traffic studies for the proposed Ann Court car park have commenced and, in fact, are currently being progressed in conjunction with a feasibility study for the car park and the surrounding area. I regret I cannot give a definite date for publication of this but I can assure the Deputy that the details will be published within the first half of this year. I can also confirm that the construction of a new car park at Ann Court is included in both the integrated travel and transport plan, and the EDAW proposals.
2.6.1. Deputy J.A. Martin:
If they are included I would just like to remind the Minister, he has just said that probably the first
half of this year; last time in the States, Sir, he said he would be viewing the final draft of his transport strategy on Friday 1st February. That was in an answer to the Constable of St. Helier. Can he also inform me, Sir, that if these plans are so loose why was the project manager of the town park and the traffic flow presenting to the St. Helier Roads Committee on 6th February, and why can the residents of St. Helier not find out what is going on?
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye:
The fact of the matter is that the traffic modelling details of the proposed Ann Court multi-storey car park will not be included in the integrated travel and transport plan. I am not precisely aware of the ability of members of the general public to attend St. Helier Parish Roads Committee meetings. I understand that the Constable of St. Helier has had a very libertarian view so that may be possible. But I think any discussions that have taken place at that level are part of an anticipated consultation process that is going on.
2.6.2. Deputy J.A. Martin:
I am very confused now, because on the first answer, unless I am losing my hearing as well as my voice is going, the Minister said I can assure the Deputy that the plans for Ann Court would be in the integrated transport strategy, and now he is saying it is not. Which one is it, Sir?
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye:
It is both. [Laughter] There will be a clear reference to proposals for the Ann Court multi-storey
car park in the integrated travel and transport plan but clearly not all the details and the traffic modelling studies, those will be published and presented separately.
2.6.3 The Constable of St. Helier :
Would the Minister give the States and the public an assurance that he recognises the difficulty in planning transport related matters? In particular, parking but also walking and cycling in the absence of the framework that he has been promising to deliver for 2 years. Would he tell us definitively when can the States and the public expect the integrated travel and transport policy to appear on their desks and their doormats?
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye:
I think it is very unlikely that the integrated travel and transport policy will be appearing on peoples' doormats but, as I have indicated, and I have sent an email to the Constable on this matter, we are very close to finalising the final draft. I think States Members are quite well aware of why delays have taken place. The department simply does not have enough officers to progress all the pressures that department faces
The Deputy Bailiff :
The question is simply when, Minister, rather than why. When?
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye:
When you see it, Sir, I think is the answer.
2.6.4. Deputy J.A. Martin
Just before we do see it, I would just like the Minister to assure me that his officers have worked very closely with the officers from the Health Ministry because New Directions has a lot of transport issues in it and if he has not consulted it is probably not worth the paper it is written on I would say, Sir, so he can keep it.
The Deputy Bailiff : The question was?
Deputy J.A. Martin:
Has he consulted at all with the officers at Health on the New Directions and the policies?
Deputy G.W.J. de Faye:
I can assure the Deputy there have been very extensive cross departmental discussions that go way further than the Health Department, so I am sure she will be entirely satisfied with what she sees when we do publish.