PLANS to cut air pollution by limiting the hours people can drive their cars have been labelled ridiculous and unworkable. Guernsey Motor Trades Association chairman Dave Beausire criticised the proposals - raised last week by driving instructor Peter Derham - claiming the island was turning into a police state.
‘I have never heard anything so ridiculous,’ said Mr Beausire.
‘We accept there is a responsibility to reduce the emissions of the motor car, but it is not just that - there’s lots of options.
‘If he’s looking for a 10% reduction, everyone should start getting the bus, walk or cycle. The bureaucracy here is ridiculous - it’s just a joke.’
Last week Mr Derham, a former deputy, resurrected an idea he reckons will cut traffic by more than 15%.
His proposals would sort all non-essential drivers into five groups and have each banned from driving in certain hours during the working week.
Differently coloured number plates would identify each category, with stiff penalties imposed on anyone flouting the system.
‘It’s absolute rubbish,’ said Mr Beausire. ‘Cutting carbon emissions should be through more education for all. The reality is all we can do is our best. The only way to reduce carbon emissions by 10-15% is through total, utter common sense.’
He suggested islanders start looking at small but effective ideas such as turning down thermostats in their houses or using more public transport.
‘They should build a proper bus lane all the way into St Peter Port.
‘If you’re sat in a traffic jam along the front in the morning and you see a bus driving past, then you might start leaving your car at home.’
Islanders also responded with doubts.
‘It’s a nice idea, but I don’t think it would work,’ said 47-year-old Sue Laker.
‘We are multi-car families and people need to be able to use any car at anytime. Sometimes you just can’t share if it’s not practical.’
Finance worker Pricilla Ma thought it was a crazy idea.
‘They should concentrate on making cars more and more efficient, rather than restricting use,’ she said.
Trainee trusts adviser Sophie Emmerson agreed.
‘I think it’s a bad idea,’ she said. ‘Surely there are better ways of dealing with car fumes? What about encouraging more people to use public transport?’
Ray Ward, 77, and his wife Brenda, 82, were visiting from Surrey.
‘It’s all gone a bit Big Brother these days,’ said Mr Ward.
‘We rely on our car because we can’t be standing around for half-an-hour waiting for the bus to arrive.’
Music teacher Dave Ansell, 36, wanted to see a traffic system in place in an island the size of Guernsey.
‘There is no need for people who just do the same route back and forth every day to be driving their cars,’ he said.
Civil servant Bernie Besnard, 59, said it was a good idea in theory.
‘The practicalities would need sorting out,’ he said. ‘It would take a lot of bureaucracy to set up and also a heavy police presence to monitor.’
Environment minister David De Lisle has written to Mr Derham after receiving the discussion document. The minister recently said he wants to push ‘greener’ issues in the House.
Reducing the island’s carbon footprint is one of the priorities of the Government Business Plan to be debated at the end of the month.
Article posted on 3rd July, 2007 - 12.00am
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