Parking charges to rise?
Saturday 24th July 2010, 3:00PM BST.
DRIVERS could soon have to pay more to park as part of government plans to get more people to leave their cars at home.
The States plan to increase car parking charges above the rate of inflation in a bid to reduce traffic congestion by 15 per cent by 2015. However people using cars with low emissions would get half price parking.
The news follows calls from Jersey’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr Rosemary Geller, to improve cycle routes in town to help tackle the Island’s obesity epidemic.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
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with the back slapping going on about the avenue being finished on time and on budget someone forgot about the cycle path from first tower into town, i kid you not it has been left like a bomb site, it is dangerous and im sure when an accident occurs a lawyer somewhere is going to have a field day. IF you want people out of there cars treat them with respect provide proper safe cycle routes and provide more public transport. IF you are going to pack people into connex mini buses like sardines people are going to say no thanks, on hot or wet days it is unhealthy and really uncomfortable on these mini buses, lets face it the states know the score they are not daft but they think we are and they know people are still going to use there cars and therefore they will make extra money off the charges and there is nothing we mortels can do about it
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I think that the car parks don’t charge half as much as they should do. Personally I have a private parking space. Less traffic on the roads would be a bonus.
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Rather than address the problem of the bus service all the States want to do is penalise the motorist to get more money – another stealth tax!!!!!
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Going into the town used to be a pleasant experience but that was over 40 years ago. We could park our cars and then pay for the time used. Now we have to predict how long it will take us to find what is probably not in the shops anyway. There is no longer time to go shopping and have lunch as well.
Our politicians have allowed the population to increase by about 50% since then and they are imposing restrictions on us that make life more difficult than it should be.
Being a pensioner now I have no intention of parking in the longer stay parking areas that are too far out for me to walk to and from.
The only answer for us is to use the internet and to buy most of what we need, apart from food, from Amazon and eBay. It is cheaper and delivered directly to our front doors although that is likely to become slower soon.
When I do have to go into the town, on those very rare occasions, I see that many shops that I used to know have closed or are under new ownership. Putting up parking charges will just accelerate the process.
If it is their intention to make Jersey a less pleasant place to live in then they are succeeding.
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Please do not charge the people who live in town more to park, just the people who commute.
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Another regressive tax for the low and middle earners.
No states member should be allowed to approve this without giving up their own space.
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Does Dr Rosemary Geller get a parking space, free, subsidised or otherwise?
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Ok lets start this by stating that cars DO NOT YOU MAKE FAT! Cakes Choclate, muffins, Ice Cream, Sweets, and any food that is consumed in excess does however. Dr Rosemary Geller should really research the subject she is talking about first and make a decision if she wants to be in politics or not, she should then stand for election.
It is the States policy of pushing the population level up towards the 100,000 mark is causing the problems were facing now, TTS have admitted in this new transport strategy that the school traffic is causing the problem and we get the 15% drop when the children are off school.
So why are the commuters being targeted in the new transport strategy instead of sorting the school bus service and staggering school starting times?
Why is the immigration issue not being seen as the main contributing factor to the traffic problems? Cars do not drive themselves.
The States in the past few years have allowed three times as many people into the island as they stated would be the case in the new immigration policy. These new taxes are no more than a smoke screen for failed policies and increased expenditure which we are expected to pay in the form of increased commuter taxes. The States need to sort out its own increased expenditure before it levies any new taxes on the public of Jersey.An environmental tax..
And the list of NEW taxes are below..this is just the start.
A purchase tax on new vehicles…yes that correct!!…the new non polluting ones..
Road Pricing/Congestion charge…you will be charged on distance traveled and time of day..
Increase on fuel duty of 2p a litre..
Taxing private car parking spaces..
Increase in parking charges to subsidise the bus service and build cycle tracks.. now implemented
An MOT style test..
An emissions tax…its strange that the policy states that old classic cars would not be able to pass this test. And gives the impression that they would be exempt…That’s the point isn’t it? That they get taxed because they are polluting the air we breath!
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This Govt’s fraudulent twisting of the truth and its confidence in public gullability is astounding.this has no chance of reducing cars…cars exist in direct proportion to the size of the community…this is plain over taxing,we keep on hearing the impractical urgings which are nonsense..were it really true you would see well heeled politicians waiting at the bus stops…We are not stupid..and we see through you..and your use of the law to extract our money through sanitized extortion..it’s already too expensive living here.
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Connex had better start providing a better bus service then…. no bus to Greve de Lecq after 5.45 pm ?? Come on… not everyone finishes work at 5pm you know………….
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Is this a joke? Put up parking charges for everyone because of obesity. Dr.Geller, do you cycle to work every day?
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Don’t States employees get free parking?
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Parking charges to rise? What about the residents of St Helier? I’m a property owner in St Helier and i am finding it very difficult to park. The amount of times i drive around in circles trying to look for a parking space, its rediculous!
There is no way i am going to get rid of my car all because we live in St Helier, RESIDENTS should have priority! We pay enough rates (too much) but for what putting up with not being able to park, some people cant even park up to come home for lunch! Some people with children are finding it very difficult to try and unload their vehicles when we have anumber of other vehicles parked in the same road/street and u want to put up the parking charges, its a joke! NOW we have a new super market on its way everyone in Don Street, please can i ask where all their customers are going to park? WHERE ARE US RESIDENTS GOING TO PARK, WE HAVE A HOME TO GO TO!
It would be nice if the RESIDENTS OF ST HELIER WERE THOUGHT OF FIRST! AFTER ALL WE DO LIVE IN ST HELIER! OUR RATES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE HIGHEST IN THE ISLAND!! PARKING PLEASE, WE WANT MORE RESIDENT PARKING ON THE STREETS OF ST HELIER!
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How does Rosemary Geller suggest to actually get any obese persons on a bike in the first place?
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Colin we mortals can do some thing about but most of us chose not to come election day use your vote. A few ministers not re elected will send a clear message to the rest we are fed up with being riped off so why not start with the Health and Transport ministers
I now personally do not shop in town unless parking is provided free, Why pay over the top jersey prices when you can get it on line, and in most case for a lot less delivered to your door.
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“plans to get more people to leave their cars at home”
Plans? That’s a funny plan. More like “We know you wont leave your cars and we want me more money”
Just another excuse to leave this dump and never come back
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“The States plan to increase car parking charges above the rate of inflation in a bid to reduce traffic congestion”
I remember the same BS argument being put forward when pay cards were introduced with on street parking charges. Previously on street parking was free using parking discs, pay cards were introduced to reduce traffic in town.
Guess what – it didn’t work but as a side effect massive profits were made on parking charges, sound familiar? People want to use their cars, they don’t all want to cycle or use buses. Increasing the financial penalty will just make them pay, the states of course know this but can claim an environmentally responsible attitude whilst raking in more money.
The real issue with traffic is mums taking kids to school, look how much less traffic there is now that the kids are off school. Masses of 4X4′s with only one child in them, and don’t most people live in town and most schools are in town, why then can’t little Johhny walk to school like we used to. Well he can of course but how is mummy going to let her friends know how big her new shiny car is if she doesn’t drive it to school.
Address this issue and you will solve the traffic problems, if you don’t address it at least have a training course to show the mums where reverse gear is so when I next pass one on an unfeasably narrow lane she can back up rather than freezing in the middle of the road.
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I hope they take into consideration the people that live in St. Helier, and have to pay to keep their cars parked in the car parks! I walk to work, but my car is kept in the car park and I pay a monthly fee, which has already gone up this year. We shuld not be penalised because our town flat does not come with a parking space.
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…leave our cars behind, I waited for a bus to take me into town on Friday for 30 minutes and it never showed up, typical of our fantastic bus service!!!! I won’t bother in future and take my car in anyway, no matter what it costs. Do something about this pitiful bus service then I might consider leaving my car at home!!!
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It will never work, those who want to cycle will and those who want the convenience of their cars, will carry on doing just that. I cycle to work all year but use the car for everything else, public transport just doesn’t work for most families etc.
I would love to know how much revenue is raised through parking charges, especially as it keeps rising, and where it is actually spent.
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Of course, these charges have nothing to do with congestion, obesity or emissions. I just wish States members were honest about it and tell us that they want more money in the kitty and as usual parking charges are going up, like they always do.
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As Colin (1) states this is nothing to do with deterring people using their cars purely putting up costs brings in more money. I pay over £1200 per annum to park in a car park. I have a shiny nice car and no amount will stop me using my pride and joy.
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How many times has this string been brought up.
The so called contributions from Dr Geller have not resulted in any joined up thinking or understanding in basic economics.
If you are to tempt people out of their cars, as Colin says, you have to provide a suitable alternative. My first bus into Town leaves here five minutes after I am due in work and the last bus home (still leaving a 3/4 mile walk) leaves at 5.05 pm, the last time I bothered to look.
School run? Forget it, won’t work
Safe cycle routes? Apart from Vic Avenue I don’t know of any.
The basic economics are that you can double/triple car parking prices, people will simply bear the brunt, so the purpose will not work.
And people will not become fit by this ill conceived idea.
Solution: operate buses from 6am until midnight, at least one every half hour and lower the cost.
Fitness? This is already being done by private individuals; Itex walk, Marathon, Run for Life, etc. Anybody seen a States run initiative? Thought not.
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How about a decent bus service? Park and Ride? Let the Petite Train run for commuters? Just a few thoughts . . .
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Pedigree Bean 13 – WHERE ARE US RESIDENTS GOING TO PARK, WE HAVE A HOME TO GO TO!WE WANT MORE RESIDENT PARKING ON THE STREETS OF ST HELIER
God save us, you can hardly park in town anymore due to the massive expansion of the residents parking scheme. Why do those people who have chosen to buy/rent homes that don’t have designated parking whinge on when they can’t park their cars. They have paid less to buy/rent precisely because they don’t have parking, now they want the rest of us to suffer so they can have it. I live in town and made sure I got a property with enough parking because I have a car. Jersey should be like Japan, you can’t buy a car if you don’t have somewhere to park it.Apologies for the absence of big shouty capitals, I’m a grown up and don’t use them.
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Oh for pity’s sake, seriously? Why not just have scales at the car parks, measuring tape for the waist, and charge only those that ARE obese? We’re not all fat and we’re not all addicted to our cars. Some of us need to use cars due to physical disabilities than don’t qualify us for a blue badge, why the hell should we pay more because some people eat too much?
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Yet again more money from our pockets ,if they can find a way they will. I am earning far less than I was a year ago, Mr Le Suer keeps saying we must be prepared to take a decrease in our salary if needed in order to help the economy and yet we are told that rate,s electricity, parking, Tax ,GST must increase to meet the shortfall.
I am working 6 days a week in order to make ends meet I earn just enough to make ends meet and yet I am told that this must go up that must go up. I was born in Jersey but am ashamed at that way this island has changed towards locals.
Enough is enough never mind the advert support local buy local how about support local employ local?
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rip off jersey strikes again
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Jersey you have a problem,just have a look at what Bermuda does.Limit the number of cars per Household,go to PERSONAL BERMUDA OPTIONS FOR RESIDENTS-This what you might end up with,
Good luck
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This is so unfair another tax on people who are already working hard. Perhaps we need the people who are shouting about this to pay for their parking. Dr Geller gets free parking at the Le Bas Centre and Politicians get “free” parking I wonder how much money can be created by getting these type of people to pay? When I was a child we were taught to “Lead by Example” WHAT example are the people in power showing at present other than bullying…
I had to take my car to work when I lived and worked in Jersey not by choice but because I could not rely on the public transport system to get me from where I lived to my childminder then on to work. I was a working mother and in truth by the time I had paid for my car in insurance, wear and tear and parking fees, as well as child minding fees there wasnt really alot left to play with out of my wage all you are doing is taxing people like us trying to make a living and to better our family. Why does that make us easy pickings….
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Pedigree Bean – Move
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Quit whinging. Jersey drivers pay about half of what they’d pay to park in England.
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I am all for it – my company pays for my parking, so if this results in less traffic for me, then happy days.
Truthseeker – your arguments about over-taxing are wrong. It isn’t a tax, it is a fee for using the service. You really need an education in English!
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Why should Dr Geller need a free parking space? I presume she is leading by example and already doing what she expects of the general population…cycling into work every day.
If all civil servants and politicians with free parking spaces were to start cycling, how much would be saved?
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Anyone know what the emission threshold will be for half price parking?
I wonder how this will work for visitors (like me.) Will we get twice as long on a scratchcard for a smaller engine?
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Buy a Prius!
Half price parking!!Plus the added bonus of “not”
Supporting the Bmw,Audi,Ronge Rover,Volkswagen etc Jacksons Jersey mentality;-)
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I work in Winchester and it costs me £8 per day to park my car!!!
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We don’t pay half as much as the UK so I keep hearing but when I lived/worked in the UK there is always a reasonable amount of parking provided nearby for free or the building you work in has its own parking facilities. Very few places in Jersey have parking for all staff so NO it is not comparible to the UK…..
P.s. I couldn’t find a boat in the morning so will the lunch time one suffice??
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Raising parking charges whilst maintaining a comparatively sub standard bus service will not reduce congestion, improve fitness levels or increase usage of public transport.
The answer lies, I believe, in the following.
1. Scrap parking scratch tickets and introduce a ticket system where you “pay as you stay”. A bit like the airport. This will reduce the need for traffic wardens (not park control officers please) which are currently employed to roam the car parks armed with expensive gadgets looking for someone who has overrun their time or a confused tourist baffled by a scratch card system reminiscent of the 1970’s.
2. Incentives for car pooling schemes. Perhaps cheaper parking for cars which arrive with at least 4 occupants. Attended car park funded by the parking fees.
3. An expansion of the routes. Allow Tantivy to tender for some routes or times or make it a condition of contract from Connex that they increase their route coverage and peak time frequency.
4. Bring in an American style school bus system. Big distinctive buses on major routes. Funded part private advertising (oh wouldn’t Coca Cola et al love a captive young audience?), part parent and part from either car parking charges or a portion of the petrol tax we never much benefit from.
There you are, some ideas without costing a penny of consultant fees.
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I know 2 States members who regularly walk or use the bus – neither of them are Ministers!
The fact is that TTS don’t want to pay to build new car parks or maintain those that we already have. The Planning Minister wants to be able to cram as many dwellings as possible onto any sites left and if they don’t have to provide parking spaces/garages they can squash more in. This is what this is all about – apart from getting more money from us of course.
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If the Constable of St. Helier charges staff at the town hall a reasonable charge( for reasonable read less than the public car park charges ) to park their cars, then why allow over three thousand States workers to park for free.
Still as a wise old retired politician once told me. The only way to get islanders interested in Government and to vote out idiots and self interested ego power corrupted,non- commonsense politicians is to hit the public in the pocket.
Welcome to the real world non voters of Jersey. register then unite and vote, otherwise no chance of changes ever.
Davey.
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There is nothing like indirect/regressive taxation to keep the poor in their place.
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Sorry
I used to work for the States at the Hospital. You don’t get “FREE” parking unless you are a manager or the head of a department, the people that provide the service from the catering department to the porters to the nurses and doctors do not get free parking. You have to be in power to get that privilage.
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Clearly as these measures are aimed at the hard working members of the private sector, it is time to withdraw TOTALLY the free parking made available to States Workers, and that includes Dr Geller !
Thouse who contribute to the islands economy have a right to travel to work in comfort and safety, and have adequate parking available at a reasonable charge. Interestingly, someone made reference to Bermuda with its one car per household policy and very low speed limites. Apparently, with commuters and tourists forced onto mopeds etc, Bermuda is the accident capital of the world !
It surely is time to speak out and take action, a la The French !
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Flipping heck! Did I miss something or haven’t they just put parking up by over 13% recently without so much as a ‘by your leave’ or warning? All because they used the money to pay for bicycle lanes etc – i.e. anything but what the funds should have been used for!
I agree with Warren J (No. 44) that they are again penalising the hard-working middle and low income earners without themselves having to contribute.
Don’t they realise that they are making far too expensive for us to stay here. What will they do when we tax payers finally say ‘enough is enough’ and go somewhere else!
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Err – another stupid idea by those out of touch with reality. Is there a chief officer dedicated to coming up with these ideas? I bet there is and I also bet he is earning +£100k.
Many of the main schools are based around town and on a small island with a network of country lanes many people have to drive to get their kids to school and, if working in town, will need to park to pick them up again to take them home. How does ramping up the cost of parking do anything except annoy people and generate money to then be wasted. It will do nothing to reduce congestion. If that is the primary objective they should make it one car per family unit. Or just accept that we are where we are and promote small more efficient cars.
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I waited for a bus a couple of weeks ago for over half an hour, it never turned up. Having contacted the Bus Company, it was due to an accident happening along the route and the bus went back to town via another way. There was no alternative set up.
Where I previously lived there was no bus before 8am, I started work at 7.30. There was no option but to drive or cycle and I really do not feel particularly safe on a bike over here.
If the States really feels the need to raise parking charges, shouldn’t they make sure that alternative modes of transport are up to scratch?
Unfortunately the price hike for parking is going to affect the less well off again as the higher paid normally have a parking space provided.
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To carol “It costs me £8 per day to park in Winchester”
Why park in Winchester town centre? There are at least two very regular and efficient park and ride services operating early morning to late night which cost a fraction of that.
Park and Ride is not yet an option in St Helier.
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why not reduce the population by 15%as we are over populated.
any rise in parking must lead to inflation.
or will the service industry, take it laying down.
i was at a loss as to why driving to and from my place of work made me fat, other than the ability to drive to get tea with two sugars and well done bacon rolls.
stop the states wasting cash is the better option.
buy the way, the is no need to employ a consultant , just look into the work already done on parking by the late deputy carter.
i have a copy of the book that was produced.
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37 carol
‘I work in Winchester and it costs me £8 per day to park my car!!!’
That must be peanuts compared to the boat fare!
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And how long before the taxi/cab drivers jump on the band wagon and raise their prices to???
When is our first class bus service going to be run properly?
Start to work on these problems first so the public have an alternative to the car and may be people will change.
But there again, what will they do with all the empty car parks? Tax you in another way to make up for lost revenue.
Another well thought out plan!!
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It surley must be clear to everyone, spend too much,bring in very daft 0/10 tax policies which will leave big multi million pound holes in a small island budget. Then bring in administrators being paid £1,000 a day who will bring in more managers (Hospital) and you have a right old financial mess. For mess read weakening economy out of balance and heading the wrong way.
Answer ? squeeze the working population dry little by little, a few drips at a time untill the bath full again. Maybe its time to say enough is enough and use your own voice. That day will come anyway, but how bad will we let it get. Fact, three thousand biting ant’s can see off a grizzly bear.
Davey
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Perhaps Dr Geller should lead by example and give the hospital patience back the hospital car park which has been completely taken to provide her and her staff with free parking.
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For once, someone come up with an idea that penalises rich and poor alike, the rich have no more right to use the roads than anyone else.
#32 But we don’t have the public transport infrastructure you have in England!
#36 So it’s not enough that the States want to make parking purely something for the rich (which is clearly wrong), you want us all to fork out for two cars so driving is only for the rich. One a Prius, and another that can actually deal with all the other uses we need our car for (farmland, going to the mainland etc). Some of us do actually use the 4WD aspect of our vehicles!
#33 “my company pays for my parking” Believe that you’ll believe anything. If they have to fork out more on parking they’ll make the cuts in other areas, most likely future bonuses or pay rises, or do you really think they love you that much?
#39 Totally right, and I do think there is a need to make school buses mandatory, none of this “parents must drop their children at the gate nonsense”. School runs are clearly the biggest problem, sort that and there is barely an issue. On top of that there will need to be a lowering of the requirements for a blue badge. Intermittent conditions like mine (well I am in constant pain but the total immobility is intermittent) don’t qualify for a badge due to the health service’s ignorance (which stems from the NHS). If I am having a remotely off day I have to use the car rather than walk just in case I end up stranded somewhere the bus service doesn’t reach. Nevermind that there is less chance of me catching something if I’m in my own car! Public hygiene leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to spreading bugs that are fine for others but can do serious harm to people like me.
Can Rosemary tell us what she will do for people with conditions like fibromyalgia, endometriosis, arthritis, adenomyosis etc? Or are we to be housebound?
Jersey… the rich and mobile can have access to the whole island (that we ALL pay for) the poor and ill have to stay indoors and shut up! Is that really how we want to portray the island?
I do exericse, I drive to the gym where I am in a controlled environment that won’t leave me in a situation where I am unable to get home. Guess now I’ll be stuck indoors just getting fat, counterproductive to the genius Geller’s ideas!
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Amanda 43 “You don’t get “FREE” parking unless you are a manager or the head of a department”
Yes same at the bank, why is it that those who can most easily afford it are the ones who don’t have to pay?
45 Eralc “Did I miss something or haven’t they just put parking up by over 13% recently without so much as a ‘by your leave’ or warning”
Yes they did, can’t believe no one has mentioned it before you, this is a blatant attempt to milk the motoroing cash cow and generate income.
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The whole inner city should be closed for cars. That would
give enough space for cycles and would cost no money. people who live in walking distance to the school should walk; it is annoying : people dropping their children to school who live in close proximity, this would make it possible to breath cleaner air in st helier.
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Fair enough if the money made is being spent on putting extra buses in service. and please check the bustimes!!??!! How can you expect people to get the bus when for some people the choices of bustimes are 17.05 (with the majority of people finishing at 17.00) or an hour later, it just does not work.
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I regularly read of the outrage and disgust at our (mostly failed) government policies but the truth of the matter is that you have the government you deserve.
You either can’t be bothered to vote, which is a disgrace in itself, or those that do listen to the spin and mostly end up voting for the same old faces with the same old policies and the same old allegiances. And then moan about them.
If you want a proper joined up government, which does not constantly attack the poor and middle earners, which does not stick all its eggs in one ‘finance’ basket, which is accountable for its cock-ups etc etc etc… scratch beneath the surface of the spin and get off your backsides and vote for one.
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The answer is to boycott St.Helier. They make it difficult to get into town and park, so it seems utterly unwelcoming to me. So I don’t go.
Either they want shoppers in town or they don’t – make your minds up Jersey. I’ll do my shopping out of town or via the internet if you like.
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For the last two years or so I have given virtually none of my hard earned cash to St Helier businesses, parking is one reason why, rip off prices is another.
It is more convenient and often much cheaper to buy online.
Greed doesn’t do them many favours in the long run when my cash is primarily being spent in England. I am sure I am not alone.
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I walked to town from St.Brelade with my kids yesterday, now i know why i’ve got a car,non stop moaning!
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Ref Nos. 59 and 60, I am unsure what all these shops in town actually sell, because I dont go in 98% of them.
Ironically, most of my shopping is done at busnesses which have re-located out of town, causing me to drive even more.
(A book of paycards lasts me two years, that’s how little I go into town and park !)
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Well Ms Geller , you’ve done it again…..not only are you dipping you’re feet into policy making (which is not you’re role), but everything you get involved with ends up costing us all a again, remember the pandemic, have you managed to sell off all that vaccine yet ?
And thanks to Mr Cohen & Co at planning, you should have assured that all new office/shop buildings in town, had underground parking with as many levels down as possible.
Getting more people onto buses has got to be a joke. Eg, the service from La Moye is terrible, if you’re lucky to get on during the comute times, you will be standing. If there is a seat available, you don’t have enough room for your legs. How Connex came to measure the seat spacing so close together ??? What happened to the doubledecker idea .
Constable Jackson, you need to pull your finger out and change the buses and get the operators to do their jobs effectively, the tax payer has paid enough in supporting them and building the terminus.
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Increasing parking charges will not in itself do much to stop congestion. It will discourage people from coming into town off-peak to browse on non-essential shopping, but the workers will still have to get to work. Not many people have a job where it is acceptable to arrive bedraggled with rain or sweat according to the weather, so they will still have to come by vehicle. And there is no intention to create a bus service that would provide a serious alternative.
To stamp out commuter traffic, Jersey needs to lose jobs and workers. That game is not worth the candle.
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What about a light rail off road,theres plenty space on promenades with park n ride.there must be routes also fron north of st helier,
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Is there any suggestion that Rosemary Geller has come up with that doesn’t involve putting up prices? Tobacco, alcohol, parking, price them out of (ordinary) people’s reach. And she wonders why Jersey has a suicide problem!
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It really is obvious now that this Govt..is so over confident that the peasants will put up with anything, that they are now blatantly taking the P***…it’s time we bared our teeth.
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31 se: Pay me to move!
25 Stan Dinstill: , i’m not gonna get rid of my car because i live in St Helier! Arent u lucky to have your own parking space! Tough for everyone else that lives in St Helier is it? WE NEED MORE PARKING SPACES FOR THE RESIDENTS! Stan Distill, got any room for me to park my car?
Sorry but i didnt choose to live in St Helier, even though i own the property! If i had a choice to live somewhere it certainly wouldnt have beenin St Helier, but sadly being Jersey, we cant pick and choose any more unless u have the money!
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The car park above the under pass, why not turn that into a muliti story or even have some under ground parking?
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I’ve said it before, rebuild the entire town on a higher level with massive car parks underneath.
If raised to become level with Westmount, La Pouquelaye, Five Oaks, Mont Millais etc. the new development would enjoy decent sea views over the waterfront. A few buildings of historical importance, like churches could remain on the car parking level with open vewing galleries surounding them at the upper level.
There might even be space for a new town park, a sort of roof garden.
It makes so much sense, why delay? If I can think this up why can’t architects and town planners?
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Truthseeker: don’t make me laugh – “it’s time we bared our teeth”!! Jersey is not some State requiring a peasant revolt or uprising Che Guavera style. Where do you think you live? This is a wealthy State, where the poorest drive aroudn in Ford’s, and own only one plasma TV.
This Govt has done alright under the circumstances – look at Spain, Italy, Greece… the list is endless. Jersey is at the top of the pile… oh that’s right, sorry – it doesn’t suit your argument against this actually quite sound Govt.
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@Mac, we are not in England!!!!
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Why should those of us who are not obese suffer because many are? If we live a healthy lifestyle and not eat junk food why should we also have to pay higher parking? It always seems like we have to suffer for everyone elses mistakes in life.
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The bus service needs to be improved and made cheaper to encourge more people to use it. If me and my girlfriend get the bus it’s more expensive than driving. The timetable needs to be improved too. We live at Portelet and the last bus home in the winter is 5:45, in the summer it’s 5:15, makes sense doesn’it!!? I don’t finish until 5:15.
But we cycle to work so, at the moment, this doesn’t affect us.
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Take the GST off all FRESH fruit, FRESH vegetables and FRESH fish and slap it on processed and fast food.
That would encourage healthier eating without inventing new taxes. It might also invigorate our agriculture and fishing industries.
They could then add an extra couple of percent GST to the pies etc so that those who wish to eat killer food will be paying for their own, wholly avoidable, medical care.
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#75 Dr Omega, I think the only real solution to the obesity problem is to make it cheaper to eat healthy food (and it already is quite cheap) and add more tax onto the seriously unhealthy foods. This will still penalise healthy-eaters to some degree, but the increase in tax they face for a few goodies will hopefully be surpassed by the decrease in tax on healthy products.
#75 Totally agree.
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And why was the avenue finished on time?
Because it isn’t finished!! The same drainage curb stones are not used consistently along the length and the central reservation isnt straight!!
Full price but half a job! More stealth taxes and for what – nothing. COM and our States could not manage their way out of a wet paper bag! Cuts not taxes!
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Ok save saying the same thing over and over (i agree with 99% of the above comments)
Id just like to point out how we have these highly paid “experts” like geller who come out with tosh like
driving you car makes you fat
Its ridiculus to assume people driving are contributing to the “EPIDEMIC” of obesity.
Also, why should people who are driving their cars be paying for improved cycle routes? shouldnt cyclists be taxed for this?
Use motoring taxes to improve the roads, fix some of the stupid one ways we have and build more parking.
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Dr.Geller what are we going to do with you…driving makes you fat…you are havin a laugh…we have obesity here that is alarming…and much of it is food addiction..attend to that rather than give out a £Million and a half in unnescessary stomach banding surgery….and while you are on yet another Jolly at our expense in Germany,make up your mind if doctoring is your buisness or being a politician…as all your time spent in the political arena means you should quit your 140something thousand salary and stand for election..let’s see you put your money where your mouth is..
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Sorry about this but I’m from Guernsey where short and long term parking is currently free
BUT,our Deputy Brehaut (one of the good reasons for introducing Island wide voting)is intending to bring the subject of paid parking up for debate for about the fifth time in six years or so
Reading the posts above most contributors are not happy about a possible rise in parking charges in Jersey under the guise of being a health benefit !
The Guernsey excuse is that it would winkle people out of their cars and onto the buses which of course sounds much better than the truth … a money making exercise
What I would like to ask you good folk is …
Did the introduction of paid parking actually reduce commuter car use ? I suspect it might have done for a few weeks / months but soon crept back to normal levels once commuters got used to the fact that it wasn’t going to go away
Do you still get gridlock on all roads leading into St Helier in the mornings and at the end of the working day despite a £100 + per month season ticket?
I think we employ four,possibly five,parking controllers.How many do you have ?
Are you happy with your scratch card method or is there a better way?
I think I’ll stop there or some Guernsey States department will be forcing 50K on me as a consultants fee !
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