Restrictions in Broad Street

21.12.13

5 Connétable M.K. Jackson of St. Brelade of the Minister for Infrastructure

regarding restrictions in Broad Street (OQ.245/2021):

Given the Assembly's request to the Minister to report back to the States on the success or otherwise of the pedestrian-priority restrictions in Broad Street by the end of 2021, will he state whether he will be in a position to provide an update by the end of the year as agreed?

Deputy K.C. Lewis of St. Saviour (The Minister for Infrastructure):

The answer is yes, I can confirm it is my intention to present a report by the end of the year as required by P.28/2021. I can also advise I recently met with Deputy Gardiner and with Constable Crowcroft , the sponsors of the proposition, to discuss my initial findings and explore future opportunities, with a particular emphasis on parking and access provision for people with disabilities and limited mobility. I was encouraged by their feedback and look forward to continuing to work closely with them as the study progresses.

1. The Connétable of St. Brelade :

Would the Minister agree that the closure has failed to produce tangible results in terms of commercial benefit?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

I cannot argue with the Constable on that point, but all will be revealed in the report which will be coming forward in the very near future.

2. Deputy R.J. Ward :

Can I ask the Minister what he sees as a tangible success for this project? Deputy K.C. Lewis :

Members are aware that I intended to reopen Broad Street, but a proposition was brought by the Constable of St. Helier and amended by Deputy Gardiner to keep it closed with certain provisions. The ball is not in my court, as such. I work at the bidding of the States Assembly. We also have lots of other things coming into the mix. We have increased a lot of the disabled parking in Sand Street Car Park and also increased the parent and child parking, so in fact the entire level 4 in Sand Street Car Park is now disabled and parent and child, which could also include grandparent or guardian. There is lots in the mix, plus we have got the town bus service in the pipeline, so all that will come through into the report.

3. Deputy R.J. Ward :

Can I glean from that that the Minister cannot see this as possibly a successful project, as he does not know what success looks like for the project of Broad Street itself, which is what the question is about?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

I am not sure that I understand what the question is, that I do not know what success looks like. That is quite bizarre. It is a matter for Members. It is not my proposition that this was put forward, so it is the view of the Members. If States Members direct me in a certain way then that is what I must do. The success from my point of view is an amendment to our bus service into Broad Street. That was a success, and cycling also is permitted one way down Broad Street. That is a success, obviously taking care with pedestrians. The work is ongoing to measure where success lies.

4. Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour :

Has the Minister been made aware of the concern that if a disabled person wishes to stay at the Premier Inn with a suitcase, for example, there is anecdotal evidence from taxi drivers that they cannot pull up and assist that disabled person that way? Is the Minister aware of this concern and will he act on it?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

I am indeed aware of it. It is not anecdotal, it is a fact that taxis are not permitted down there, not after 11.00 a.m. That is the usual scheme that is going on at the moment. There have also been a few shop owners who would like access after that time. It is a problem and officers are working on that. There is ample disabled parking but not exactly where people want it, for instance just around the corner. Literally 50 yards away in Sand Street Car Park there is a whole basement of disabled parking plus level 4, which I have previously mentioned. Parking outside is obviously very difficult. There is Dumaresq Street, which is literally around the back.

Deputy J.M. Maçon:

I am glad it has been heard. Thank you.

5. Deputy I. Gardiner of St. Helier :

As the Minister mentioned regarding the proposition, I would like to seek a clarification from the Minister. As the proposition intended that we would have a bus service that would go around the Library Place and allow Broad Street to be purely pedestrian, what we have created is half pedestrian and half traffic through, and it does not help any of the parties. Would the Minister agree that creating clarity if it is pedestrian or non-pedestrian would help for the public to use Broad Street accordingly?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

I await the report which the Deputy will be feeding into that. As I say, I think it is a success at the moment to get the buses going back down Broad Street and lots of people who do have mobility problems are able to use the bus and to be dropped off in Broad Street is a great bonus for them. Also, it assists in getting around various other parts of St. Helier town, which is very difficult if they took an alternate route. Everything is in the mix.

[15:00]

6. Deputy I. Gardiner :

Would the Minister see a success if the bus would be able to get to the Library Place, which is almost the same place, and keep Broad Street purely pedestrian?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

Not the way the routes are laid out, no.

7. Deputy G.J. Truscott:

I think there was a fair deal of criticism right at the beginning that not all of the stakeholders in Broad Street were consulted. Could the Minister assure the Assembly that this time everyone was consulted that have either businesses or premises in Broad Street?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

I believe that will be part of the process in the report. As I pointed out, it was not my proposition, but the report does come back to me and I will make sure that all the premises in Broad Street are consulted.

8. The Connétable of St. Brelade :

Would the Minister confirm whether the extended closure is influenced by the impending demolition of some properties in Broad Street as part of an imminent large development taking place there?

Deputy K.C. Lewis :

Not to my knowledge. I am aware there is a large development in the pipeline halfway down Broad Street, but that should not impact on the road.