'Rising scale' of parking fees draws mixed views

Drivers have expressed mixed views after Jersey's government said higher prices could be introduced at some central car parks to encourage people to park in the town's outskirts.

Infrastructure Minister Constable Andy Jehan said officials were considering whether the pricing structure already in use at Sand Street in St Helier - where the tariff rises after three hours - should be extended to other car parks.

Jehan hoped it would incentivise drivers to park at Pier Road, a 12-storey car park atop a hill overlooking St Helier, which he said "sits with a lot of space most days".

While some drivers said costs would influence their choice of where to park, others argued convenience was key.

Peter Tabb, who parked at Sand Street to visit nearby Charing Cross, said: "I have a slight mobility problem which means that this is about as far as I would like to walk from the car park to my meeting.

"Certainly I wouldn't be wishing to walk from as far as Pier Road."

He said making Pier Road a more cost-effective option would be a good idea for people who were "fit enough to go up and down" the hill.

Ian Cuming, who said he parked at Sand Street due to its convenient location and payment system, said: "I don't have to worry about how long I'm staying here.

"I know that I can stay here as long as I like and pay at the end rather than having to think, 'Oh I've got to choose how many hours I am going to stay for'."

Chris Lakeman, who had also chosen to park at Sand Street, said she would have parked elsewhere if it was cheaper.

"If I park here for too long, if I go over three hours, it's quite costly," she said.

"I come into town probably four days a week - sometimes five - and I can always find a parking space."

Constable Simon Crowcroft argued there was not enough parking in St Helier.

He said: "Certainly not close to town, the north of town, for example, coming down Queen's Road.

"There are various sites where we could be putting a new multi-storey car park.

He said he had supported a proposal for a new multi-storey car park at Havre des Pas.

The infrastructure minister agreed in the "longer term" an additional car park would be needed on the outskirts of St Helier.

Jehan also said existing spaces could be better used and the "rising scale" of prices at Sand Street could be replicated at other town centre car parks.

"We've currently got car parks which have got spaces, so we don't actually need more car parks necessarily, we need to utilise the infrastructure we've currently got," he said.

"Pier Road sits with a lot of space most days.

"I think we should be looking to use that facility before opening a new one."

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