Set up by mum-of-two Victoria Robert on the online platform voiced.gg last month, the petition calls for an increase in the number of wider spaces in States-owned car parks to allow parents to get babies and young children in and out of vehicles more easily and safely, as well as related equipment such as car seats and push chairs.
She said the response given by On-Island Travel and Transport Implementation stopped short of committing to introducing wider spaces, or developing the legislation needed to be able to officially designate such spaces to young families, but it did recognise how tight public parking spaces across the island can be and the difficulties that could create for parents. It also confirmed that the concerns raised through the petition will be considered as a part of continuing discussions regarding parking policy and future parking design on the island, and as a matter for officers to comment on when addressing relevant planning applications.
‘While this isn’t the immediate outcome we hoped for, the issue is now firmly on the radar and our concerns are recognised as relevant to future parking policy,’ said Miss Robert.
The petition is still active on voiced.gg and she has now committed to a new goal of obtaining more than 250 signatures to continue the campaign.
Last month the Environment & Infrastructure Committee admitted that public parking bays were still sized for cars from the 1970s, with standard sizes of 4.8m by 2.4m, as used in the UK. Cars are now 10-15cms wider than they were 50 years ago.
Deputy Ross Le Brun called for a review but the committee said that any changes would be evidence-led and made during routine maintenance.
Deputy Le Brun argued that parking should be judged on whether people can get in and out ‘safely, comfortably and with dignity’, not just on space numbers, and urged more engagement with disabled islanders, older people and parents.
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