Strategy is well thought out

Some 10 days or so before the rally on North Beach, several Environment board members and other deputies accepted an invitation by the organisers of the Enough is Enough group to attend a meeting to discuss a wide range of issues. At that meeting, we confirmed that Environment was looking at ways it could make changes to the legislation to take into account concerns expressed by the group and indeed by other interest groups who had contacted us. So when, on the radio, Deputy Burford was asked if it was the rally that had spurred Environment into making amendments, she correctly replied that the decision had been arrived at previously. This does not, however, as Mr Ryan suggests, mean that the voices of 2,000 people do not matter. Everyone's voice matters whatever their view, and there are many different views.

But the most misleading point Mr Ryan makes, which cannot go unchallenged, is that the first-registration duty will make 'the vast majority of the population suffer'.

This is categorically and demonstrably untrue. Of the 4,000 cars per year registered here for the first time, the majority will not be subject to any duty at all. People can reduce the duty or avoid it altogether by choosing cars which fall into lower or zero bands.

There are approximately 45,000 vehicles on this island in use. None of those will be subject to the duty when they change hands (approximately 17,000 change hands each year).

Larger, higher-emission cars are the ones we want to discourage, in response to the vast majority of transport-related concerns expressed by islanders. Cars of average width and emissions are entirely unaffected, and particularly narrow and low emission cars are being actively encouraged by the offer of rebates.

Mr Ryan also says this tax will harm tourism but gives no reason as to why he believes that will be the case. A better bus service will be good for tourism and the reduction in the number of large and more polluting vehicles will make the island more attractive, as will more cycle ways and pedestrian areas, all enabled by the States-approved Transport Strategy.

Your correspondent Mr Mahoney says the major contributors to width and emissions, such as buses and lorries, on our roads are not being targeted. However, this is incorrect.

The original proposals last April did include commercial vehicles. A successful amendment removed the width-duty element but the emissions duty remains.

Where buses are concerned, they provide a social good and each bus has the potential to take many cars off the road, thus reducing traffic and making life easier for other drivers. We will also be replacing the current bus fleet in stages with smaller, cleaner vehicles.

Mr Mahoney then states that the policy will not get people with health problems out of their cars. The objective of this particular strand of the Transport Strategy is not to get people out of their cars, but to encourage people to choose smaller, cleaner vehicles. Moreover, some people have health problems which mean they are unable to drive and the wider policies of the strategy aim to make getting around the island easier for all, not just those who drive, with an emphasis on measures to assist those with disabilities.

A valid point is made about the other polluting effects of diesel and indeed this point is also made in the Transport Strategy, which acknowledges that as more research comes out, a move to a separate charging scale for diesel and petrol engines may well be necessary. Other jurisdictions are also considering policy responses to the latest research concerning diesel pollution.

Your correspondent then says that if everyone changes behaviour, no funds will be raised and if no one changes behaviour, nothing will change. Interestingly the same observation is made within the Transport Strategy itself, but as the strategy concludes, the outcome inevitably will be between these two extremes. Below is a list of just some of the benefits of the strategy:

• £1,000 cashback on electric vehicles

• Electric-car charging points in Town

• Preferential Town parking for low-emission vehicles

• Comprehensive Town residents’ parking scheme

• £400 cashback on new cars below 1,600mm

• £400 cashback on new cars below 85g/km

• Preferential Town parking for small cars

• Park and Ride trial

• Improved bus service

• New bus fleet with smaller, cleaner buses (phased in, in three stages)

• Real-time information for buses on smartphone/tablet

• Additional bus shelters

• Electric bike promotions

• More pedestrianised areas in Town

• Funds for schools to implement travel solutions and encourage safe, active travel

• Overhaul of seafront cycle lane

• Limited-time free buses to encourage increased ridership

• Numerous work streams to make life easier for disabled people to get around the island.

• Joining up of coastal cycle paths and ruettes tranquille to create safer cycling routes

• More bike parking in key locations

• More motorcycle parking in key locations

• Improvements to public areas and traffic flow at the Bridge

• Pedestrian safety measures such as better footpaths, crossings, drop-kerbs and lighting

• Improving road safety around schools

• Enforcement officer to target pavement surfing, cars stopping in clear ways etc

• Review of commercial vehicle operation to reduce impacts and encourage cleaner vehicles

• Road safety education in primary schools by road safety officer

• Cycle proficiency in primary schools by Environment

• Adult cycling proficiency classes and cycle-maintenance workshops

• Promoting Town as a live-work environment to reduce need to own car, with good public transport

• Car-sharing website and work travel plans

As can be seen, much of what your correspondents have raised has already been considered by the original policy. We would invite anyone with any questions to take time to read the Transport Strategy itself or to contact any one of the Environment Department deputies, who will be pleased to respond.

DEPUTIES YVONNE BURFORD, BARRY BREHAUT, PETER HARWOOD, ANDREW LE LIEVRE, JOHN GOLLOP.