GUERNSEY seems set to adopt a scratch-card system of paid parking, as in Jersey. But the Environment Department, which hopes to introduce the charges next summer, said it would learn from the Jersey experience to improve the model.

In Jersey, motorists buy cards from shops, scratch the date and time parked and display one.

But now its States is considering a change. Transport minister Guy de Faye said that he was confident that the public wanted an alternative.

Environment minister Deputy Ivan Rihoy said a scratch card system was most suitable for Guernsey, but the Jersey scheme was impractical for the island.

St Helier has different zonings and central areas cost more per hour.

‘We will learn from their lessons and the mistakes they have made,’ said Deputy Rihoy.

He said the system would have to be modified so that only one card was needed.

Alternatives, such as an enclosed compound system for paid parking zones, as at the airport, or meters, were out of the question.

Barriers required would not be compatible with on-street parking and meters would be perceived as too much of a visual scar on the Townscape.

Meetings have taken place at officer level with the Jersey Driver and Vehicle Standards Department for ideas on how to introduce the scheme.

Environment has also been talking to the St Peter Port douzaine and the police.

The States agreed that 10-hour spaces in North Beach, Salerie and the Odeon car parks would be included, with Environment having to allocate a further 500 long-stay spaces.

Parking at the Castle Emplacement, South Esplanade and La Vallette are also being considered.

Steps have also been taken to review the residents’ existing parking schemes and small initiatives in view of the advent of charging.

‘When we enforce paid parking, some motorists will obviously try and avoid this by parking elsewhere and more than likely in streets in the residents’ parking scheme,’ said Deputy Rihoy.

‘We will have to monitor this carefully, or several residents will find they have nowhere to park.’

He said that there was a lot of confusion regarding residential parking and that it would be reviewed.

The scheme is currently free, with 2,000 permits allocated to residents allowing them to stay longer in their streets.

Environment is looking at additional areas for paid parking and the idea of levying an administration fee to cover the cost of the scheme.