Last chance to build a multi-storey car park?
IN RECENT years the States has lost many opportunities to build a much needed multi-storey car park. Most recently the old quarry at Salerie Corner and a site on the south side of Charroterie and another in Park Street could have been used for this purpose.
Further back in time we lost the opportunity to double the number of cars parked at North Beach by putting two levels underground and leaving the whole of ground level for social amenities although I believe this could still be achieved.
At present all traffic coming from the north is well served by Salerie Corner and North Beach car parks.
Traffic coming from the south and west must cross Town, either at high level through Queen's Road and down the Grange to North Beach or down Val des Terres and Ville au Roi to Le Vallette, Castle Pier, Albert Pier and along the quay to Crown Pier. Motorists seeking long-term parking will continue on to North Beach. However, with all of these there are never enough spaces.
The Castle Pier can take approximately 190 cars parked. Albert Pier has spaces for 160 and Crown Pier 140 spaces. Albert and Crown are in the centre of the Town seafront and no one can pretend that they look their best covered in cars.
I believe the States has one last chance to create a multi-storey car park and it would be on their own property.
The large site next to the States Office in the Charroterie is presently a car park holding approximately 200 cars. A multi-storey car park could be built there with six levels, the same as Frossard House, which could hold perhaps 1,000 cars.
It would be paid parking at modest rates and in due course would recover the outlay.
This would serve commuters coming in from the south and west and save large numbers of cars crossing Town through the busy streets above and the harbour front below.
A bus similar to the ones used in airports with wide doors could be employed on a continual loop around the Albert Statue to the Picquet House and there is room for them to turn and load at the western end of the Charroterie site.
Two buses might be needed morning and evenings.
Bus stops would be in Trinity Square and Upper Market going down and Trinity Square on the return journey. They would provide free transport to Town for the hundreds of people parking there and for others too.
The result would be that the Crown and Albert Piers at least could be cleared of cars to create public spaces and the reduction in traffic through Town would make the seafront a more pleasant area for pedestrians.
A 'Plum Pudding' alongside a 'Custard Castle' would be a talking point and might become a visitor attraction, until they found out what it is of course.
B. MAUGER,
St Peter Port.
