E&I ‘reluctantly’ turns to law to stop car sales
USING coastal car parks to advertise cars for sale will become illegal, if the States agrees.
Environment & Infrastructure will ask deputies to support the drafting of legislation that will make it an offence.
It follows attempts to stop the practice by using signs at places such as Vazon and Cobo to appeal for public support.
The committee said while the initiative did reduce the number of vehicles being sold, a few anti-social individuals have continued to use coastal car parks intended for leisure activities to sell vehicles.
It had ‘somewhat reluctantly concluded’ that drawing up a law was the only way to restrict the actions of a minority.
‘The committee was clear when launching its initiative in November that its preference was for the community to rally together and make it clear to these sellers that using picturesque coastal car parks as some kind of makeshift forecourt is not acceptable,’ said E&I vice-president Deputy Mark Dorey.
‘However, we also said that the option of introducing parking controls would remain should this practice continue.
‘The committee has reached a point where it feels it has no other alternative than to legislate against this practice.
‘Guernsey is a beautiful island with stunning coastline and it is deeply unfortunate that a few anti-social individuals are spoiling that appearance for their own personal gain.
‘Creating a law is not a quick process as new legislation requires the approval of the States of Deliberation and drafting must be aligned against many other priority areas.’
In the meantime, Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services would be applying for planning permission to fix permanent versions of the signs, he added.
‘We again ask islanders to help by making it clear that this inconsiderate behaviour is not acceptable. They can do this by not buying vehicles advertised for sale from public car parks.’
