TOWN retailers fear they are losing business because shoppers have nowhere to park. At last evening’s meeting, Chamber of Commerce members demanded a solution from Environment minister Bernard Flouquet to the steadily decreasing number of spaces available to their customers.
‘There is no doubt that Guernsey has got it wrong in the past,’ said Deputy Flouquet.
‘Our wish is not to settle for mediocrity. No area is more at the forefront than retention of St Peter Port as the retail centre for the island.’
He recognised the difficulty that shoppers had trying to find short-term spaces.
‘Paid parking is expected to be brought in next spring with the incentive to lessen the number of cars being used by commuters.
‘The late-night bus service was not as popular as we anticipated but we are looking to get a better platform by looking at VisitGuernsey events and targeting the people who attend them.
‘I believe we will see figures grow over the years and these figures will indicate that more people are using the buses. If you have a reasonable bus service it will bring more people into Town, which will be of great benefit for the retailers.’
One shopkeeper argued that solving the parking problem had been on the States agenda for more than 10 years and if a solution were to come, it would not come easily or quickly.
‘Attacking commuters through paid parking only forces the abusers to use non-commuter spaces,’ he said.
Deputy Flouquet denied allegations that parking had been reduced in Town and blamed the problem on the thousands of commuters who worked there.
‘The parking spaces have not been reduced. The biggest problem we have is the employees. We will start a commuter service and hope that employees are encouraged to use the service,’ he said.
But he added that in the last two years the department had done little to address the problem. Its £375,000 traffic strategy would, the States had decided, be funded from parking fees.
‘I don’t think we have done a great deal to help, except for introducing the small-car parking trial. But until paid parking comes in, we don’t have any funding,’ he said, adding that the strategy would improve matters once it could be implemented.
But chairman of the retail subcommittee Tony Creasey said the development of the Markets, increases in resident-permit parking and a reduction in spaces around the harbour had all contributed to the everyday battle customers faced when trying to find a short-term parking space.
‘The retail sector is an important and fundamental part of the Guernsey economy. Our lifeblood is customers - the fewer car parking spaces available, the more difficult it is for the customers, which makes it even more difficult for us to attract them.
‘Over the years the States has not provided a solution but has eroded an increasing number of spaces.
‘The real issue is that there is not enough commuter parking for people who work in Town and there are not enough short-stay parking spaces for customers and there are not enough spaces for residents who live in Town.’
Article posted on 27th September, 2006 - 12.00am
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