ANYONE who takes a vehicle into St Helier is likely to agree with the Constable, Simon Crowcroft, who says that there is an acute parking problem. In spite of the places available in designated car parks and in many streets, supply often fails to meet demand.

And the situation is about to get worse. Underground spaces that were an early feature of the Millennium Town Park project have failed to materialise and spaces currently available at Green Street car park and at Ann Court will eventually be lost.

Moreover, although Mr Crowcroft is now urgently appealing for more spaces – perhaps through a multi-storey solution at Snow Hill – his residents’ parking scheme has most certainly reduced the number of parking opportunities available for shoppers and others visiting town.

Few would suggest that the residents’ scheme should be abandoned – it greatly enhances the quality of life for those who choose to make their homes in St Helier – but we must remember that there is more to the parking question than convenient arrangements for motorists. Trade in town, which is at present enduring difficult conditions, would clearly be boosted if people found it easier to park close to shops and other places of business.

A lack of parking spaces also contributes to the problem of traffic congestion. During trading hours a significant proportion of the vehicles in town are not on their way from A to B but are circulating in search of an elusive parking space.

Mr Crowcroft might just have raised this whole issue at this particular time, but it is, of course, not a new concern. Both the 2010 Transport Policy and last year’s Island Plan said that the issue should be examined, principally through a study conducted by Transport and Technical Services.

It seems that no such study has been undertaken. The new man at Transport’s helm, Deputy Kevin Lewis, cannot be taken to task for this, but there is every reason why he should initiate action which should have been among his predecessor’s priorities.

Even if Mr Crowcroft’s idea of a Meccano-like structure at Snow Hill proves to be a workable concept, there is unlikely to be any quick fix for the entire town parking problem – which, in any event, must also be addressed by means, such as park-and-ride schemes, which go beyond the provision of physical spaces.