Minister can't wait for anti paid parking debate

ENVIRONMENT minister David De Lisle is looking forward to this week's States meeting, at which plans for paid parking could be scuppered. Deputy Al Brouard announced he would attempt to amend debate on the extension of the charge to out-of-Town parking with a proposal to scrap the whole idea. His amendment was seconded by Deputy Bill Bell.

'The Environment Department board has never supported paid parking,' said Deputy De Lisle.

'I will be watching with interest to see how Deputy Brouard's amendment is received.'

The States approved plans to introduce paid parking in the 1990s but has never agreed on an hourly charge.

It seemed unlikely it would ever be introduced until last March, when the House backed Deputy Peter Roffey's proposal for a 15p per hour rate.

Deputy Roffey's amendment also required Environment to report back on extending the initiative to other locations, which could include the PEH, Frossard House, Beau Sejour and the Bridge.

'My department has done a large amount of work over the past few months to deliver the Roffey amendment,' said Deputy De Lisle.

'This included examining the feasibility of introducing paid parking in and out of Town areas, which is now the subject of debate this week.'

Last week, Deputy Brouard said he wanted to see a return to Environment's original plan of funding its traffic strategy through an extra 1.2p-a-litre duty on petrol.

His concerns lie in the fairness of funding an initiative solely through long-term parking in St Peter Port and the cost of running the scheme.

The alternative plan came about when the road-transport strategy review recommended that the States rescind its earlier decision on paid parking and instead introduce the extra levy on fuel.

This was rejected by the States in favour of Deputy Roffey's proposals.

Deputy Roffey has already said he feared another U-turn will make the States 'a bit of a joke'.