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Jersey politicians will be told this week to put the people who elected them first, and give up their prime, free parking places at Snow Hill.
St Lawrence Deputy Eddie Noel is suggesting that his colleagues give up the eleven spaces which are reserved for their exclusive use at the end of Snow Hill car park which is nearest to Queen Street, and let shoppers use them instead. That would increase the number available to the public in the park by 13%, from 84 to 95.
Free parking for states members, jurats and law officers was temporarily removed from Snow Hill almost a year ago, when the Transport and Technical Services Department began work on the nearby 'cavern' drainage system.
That work will be completed in September, and Deputy Noel wants the whole car park to become available for the general public at that point:
"These spaces are at the most northern end of the Snow Hill car park and as such are the most “valuable” to shoppers. We have been asked on a number of occasions to increase shopper parking in this area of St. Helier and this proposition allows us the opportunity to deliver at no additional cost 11 additional spaces in Snow Hill car park.
"Indeed during the Police Headquarters debate the need for additional shopper parking in this area of St. Helier was referred to by a number of States Members. This proposition is simply asking Members to put Islanders interest before our own".
He suggests that States members should park in Pier Road instead, which he believes has plenty of free space.
However, Deputy Noel's proposal is being rejected by the politicians in charge of their own privileges, and he is criticised for even bringing it to the States. While accepting the need for a 'review', the Privileges and Procedures committee say:
"Any proposals for change should provide for members who may have a permanent or temporary disability and therefore need spaces located near the States Building. The Committee accepts that the public need for accessible and convenient spaces in St. Helier overrides that of States members’ needs; however, it also acknowledges that States Members have a civic duty to perform and should not be hindered in doing so.
"The Committee considers this to be a peripheral matter and is disappointed that Deputy E.J. Noel of St. Lawrence has seen fit to raise it by way of a proposition, when it could be resolved without the need for a States debate".
That debate will take place this week.
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