News that the island’s vehicle population has risen to nearly 90,000 has again highlighted the absence of any credible strategy being in place to alleviate the consequences of universal car use.
When the former Traffic Committee was charged with this same problem – at a time when it was markedly less bad – it came up with an integrated strategy that was supported by a majority of islanders.
By more than three to one, according to its survey in 2003, people recognised that something had to be done to reduce congestion in St Peter Port, which is caused chiefly by people coming in to work and then driving around looking for a space.
Its target was for a 10% reduction in peak time traffic by 2006, accompanied by a 15% decrease in commuter vehicles parking in Town, to be achieved by paid parking for commuters and an improved, subsidised bus service.
The proposals were practical, sensible, proportionate – and measurable. Traffic further proposed, in July 2003, that the charge would be 40p per hour or £3.20 for eight hours. Since this was aimed at commuters, most of whom travel alone, the cost had to be seen in the context of a better bus service for a standard £1 return fare.
As experience and our mini-survey yesterday show, Town is a pretty unpleasant place now because of traffic volumes and they are a turn-off for visitors.
Reducing that and the amount of commuter parking would have had an immediate and positive effect. And if longer-term spaces were freed up as a result, just over £3 for a day’s shopping with the car nearby isn’t bad value.
What Traffic realised all those years ago – but this Environment Department refuses to see – is that Guernsey doesn’t have to be anti-car or anti-use to change behaviours and improve Town for the benefit of all, including retailers.
Instead, however, just a handful of individuals on one department have not only destroyed by resisting paid parking a practical package, they have also squandered taxpayers’ money in the millions by removing the point of a bus subsidy.
How much longer can they get away with
such idiocy?