Need a parking space? There’ll be an app for that!

Thursday 05 November 2015

A new online tool to help drivers find the nearest empty parking space in town could be available by Christmas as one of a series of benefits from the States eGov programme expected over the coming months and years.

Jonathan Williams, the Programme Director for eGov, says that work has been continuing on the programme over the last 12 months despite claims that the project is “on hold”.

He said that larger elements of the scheme such as matching up Social Security and Tax systems, and authentication systems, will take longer to complete, there have been several initiatives completed already, with more coming.

An example he cited of completed work included “Tell Us Once” systems so that Islanders only have to tell one department of a significant change, instead of having to contact them all separately.

He said that 500 businesses have already used the “Tell Us Once” systems, and that 500 babies and 2,000 newcomers to the Island have been registered under the systems, resulting in a more efficient and cheaper service to the public.

And Mr Williams said that there is much more to come.

He said: “We have got a number of different things between now and Christmas – there will be mobile sites for buses and school buses live before Christmas.

“It’s likely that the eParish agenda will deliver online rates returns, that’s in the advanced stages, and we hope it will be ready for the next cycle.

“We’re also expecting to have a mobile-friendly website to tell people where the free spaces are in the car parks. It will show you where the free spaces are – that work is well-advanced, the minister for TTS will be keen, of possible, to get that out as soon as it is ready.”