Wednesday 15 January 2014
Environment Department response to media enquiry from Guernsey Press.
Guernsey Press enquiry:
In regard to residents parking permits can the department please answer the following questions:
- Why has the department not yet started charging the £75 fee for the permits?
- Does it intend to implement the charge soon?
- What is the loss of revenue to the department from not introducing the scheme earlier?
- Have other schemes or works by the department had to be delayed because of this loss of revenue?
- How many permits did the department issue last year, and what are the expected numbers this year?
Environment Department response:
Thank you for your inquiry regarding residential parking permits. I refer you to our previous response on this matter, sent to you on 20 February 2013.
As you are aware, the proposal for charging £75.00 for a residential parking permit was approved by the States as part of the Road Transport Strategy (RTS) in March 2006. It was clearly stated in the States Report that this measure would be dependent upon the introduction of enabling legislation which principally related to general paid parking. This legislation was brought onto the statute book in 2009. In order to activate a payment scheme for residential parking it is necessary to obtain further States approval for an Ordinance drawn up in accordance with The Road Traffic (Parking Fees and Charges) (Enabling Provisions) (Guernsey) Law, 2009.
In addition to the legislative requirements, the Department believed there would be merit in significantly expanding residential parking schemes across the Town over and above the roads mentioned in the 2006 RTS. The change would be aimed at enhancing the parking opportunities for residents and reducing the number of short journeys they sometimes make in order to park, particularly if they live and work in Town. In this respect, the new scheme has been designed to release spaces in the main surface car parks making them more readily available for commuters travelling into the Town area. A States Report setting out the terms of the revised scheme has been prepared and is to be presented for consideration in the near future.
There has been no direct loss of revenue to the Department resulting from the delays in introducing the scheme because the fee income from residential parking is aimed at recovering the costs of the introduction and running of the scheme.
It may have been possible to bring in the new scheme at an earlier date, but it did not merit a high enough priority to gain consideration before other more urgent matters.
In 2013 the Environment Department issued approximately 800 residential parking permits.
Contact Information:
Karl Guille, Traffic and Transport Services Manager
Environment Department
Tel: 243400
