Sunken Gardens offers 'excellent opportunity'

Like it or not, there are dozens of retail outlets in St Peter Port, many of which are already suffering because of internet purchasing and lower numbers of local people actually venturing into Town due, I suspect, to a lack of short-term parking spaces. The Sunken Garden offers an excellent opportunity to address this, not least because, with a bit of creative design, the visual impact could be minimised by putting in at least two levels of parking before coming up to road level; few other places in Town offer that, especially within 50 metres of the semi-pedestrianised Smith Street. The location also seemed sensible to me because if entry was from Ann's Place and exit was into St James Street, the existing one-way system would cope adequately, even if on-street parking in those two streets was reduced to provide filter lanes in and out of the car park.

I would also think that, far from encouraging vehicular traffic into Town, it would actually reduce the number of cars going down St Julian's Avenue, which then stooge up and down the Esplanade and along the front looking for a parking place.

From my own observations, St Helier is much more vibrant than St Peter Port with, I may add, a thriving market. I am sure that is due in no small measure to the availability of centre of town parking, including several multi-storey car parks.

If it is the genuine intention of Environment to preside over a St Peter Port that dwindles into a ghost town then that intention must be robustly challenged. If, on the other hand, it is simply another of the minister's hobby horses, let us pray (and vote) for a change of leader later in the year and a more enlightened approach for the generations to come.

ANDY CASTLE,

Les Chateaux,

St Martin's.

andycastle@suremail.gg

Editor's footnote: A spokesman for the Environment Department responds: The Strategic Land Use Plan, approved by the previous States in November 2011, says:

'While ensuring economic and social objectives of the States can be met, opportunities should be explored to minimise the negative effects of car parking, particularly within the centres.'

In relation to the provision of car parking, Urban Area Plan Policy CEN6 states that the Environment Department will:

'seek to ensure that there is sufficient and suitably regulated public and private off-street parking to meet the operational needs of Town, The Bridge, public facilities and the essential needs of commercial developments.'

Proposals for the provision of car parking will only be permitted where:

(a) It is required to provide adequate on-site parking to meet the operational needs of existing premises; or

(b) The site has been identified by the States for the provision of public car parking; or

(c) The parking is required as part of a development proposal or an Outline Planning Brief.

In addition, the physical development required to provide access, egress and ventilation to an underground car park, along with associated alterations to the highway and signage, all needs to be taken into account and consideration given to whether it would be likely to have a negative impact on the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, which there is also a statutory duty to preserve or enhance.

Parking occupancy surveys show that there are very few times when short-term shopper parking is not available in Town.

Furthermore, the States-approved Integrated Transport Strategy clearly outlines that there are many downsides to providing more parking, including increased congestion, and an appropriate balance has to be struck between further accommodating vehicles and the negative consequences that inevitably flow from doing so.

Any pre-application discussions are confidential between the department and its clients so the department cannot release exact details of these but the States policies mentioned above demonstrate some of the issues that would need to be fully considered in relation to a development of this nature.

The Environment Department, including the minister and members, can only operate in accordance with the policies approved by the States when considering applications.