Tuesday 19 May 2015
Following discussions with coach operators, excursion agents and local stakeholders including retailers, the Policy Council has confirmed that from 22 May coach tours associated with the cruise liner industry should now be mainly based at the 'red light arm' of the Albert Pier.
- Coach operators to move from the bus terminus to the Albert Pier from Friday [22 May]
- Reduced impact on traffic, and overall loss of 44 spaces on main cruise liner days reducing to just eight on small ship days, balanced with an increase of 28 spaces on non-cruise ship days
- Arrangements in place for mobility-impaired passengers to get to coach tours
In February 2015 the States made it clear that it would "continuously review the new arrangements from the beginning of the season and will act quickly if revisions are required." This review is managed by a cross-departmental group co-ordinated by the Policy Council. The review is important given the continued growth in the size and volume of vessels arriving in Guernsey, and so it enables the States to respond to the capacity requirements from this growth. Increasing vessel size is a trend across the cruise liner industry, and Guernsey has its first single vessel days this year with nearly 5,000 passengers on board and there is a fourfold increase in the number of days with over 4,000 passengers calling. The review also continues to actively work to identify additional public parking in town.
Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, Chief Minister said:
"Coach tours associated with the cruise liners provide significant income for a number of local businesses, including coach companies and local visitor attractions, and therefore contribute positively to Guernsey's economy. A number of coach operators have come forward in a constructive manner, suggesting that using Albert Pier would be a more effective way of picking up cruise line passengers for tours as it would cause less disruption to local traffic and pedestrians and would also improve the experience for cruise liner visitors.
"This was trialled on Thursday evening, and on Friday the Boards of the Public Services Department, the Environment Department, Commerce & Employment and Culture & Leisure decided, in the light of that trial and having fully considered the impact of the change on parking spaces, to revise those arrangements so that bus pick-ups are mainly moved to the red light arm. On cruise liner days when only a small number of coaches are required, coach tours will operate from the south east end of the Albert Pier, and the red light arm parking will be retained.
"The coach firms have been fully consulted throughout and are confident that they can make the new arrangements work safely and efficiently, with the minimum of disruption to traffic flow and town shoppers and workers. We are very grateful to the coach operators for providing their input and expertise, and we are pleased to support them by revising the arrangements in this way.
"It is very positive that all of the Departments involved are listening and acting in this way to put in place the best possible arrangements. This cruise liner season is a huge step up from what we have experienced before, it's good for our economy and our reputation to have thousands of visitors - not just because those visitors come back, but because they spread the word about what a wonderful place Guernsey is to visit. However it's absolutely vital that we minimise any local disruption while doing that - we need to get the balance right."
Hannah Beacom, Managing Director of Island Coachways stated:
"The cruise liner industry is very important not only to our business, but to other coach firms and visitor attractions on the Island.
"We have been working closely with the States of Guernsey to implement the new arrangements for cruise liner passengers at the Albert Pier. We have tried to make the bus terminus area work as a coach pick up point, but through a period of live testing we have concluded that this is impractical. The States has listened to our concerns and suggestions, responded quickly and we think the use of the Albert Pier for coaches is good for everyone working in the cruise liner industry locally.
"Changing the arrangements in this way will enhance the experience for passengers, create a safe environment for all and reduce the disruption to businesses, pedestrians and other traffic in the Albany."
Impact on parking
- As a result of the move, the public car parking at the bus terminus will once again be available, uninterrupted, throughout the year
- Overall loss of 44 spaces on main cruise liner days reducing to just eight on small ship days and an increase of 28 on non-cruise ship days
- In terms of short-term parking, the figures are overall loss of 28 spaces on main cruise liner days, an increase of 17 on small cruise ship days and an increase of 37 on non-cruise ship days
- Extra short term car parking spaces have been created along the South Esplanade
- Additional car parking spaces will be identified and created to help mitigate against the lost spaces on cruise liner days
The revised coach arrangement also means there will no longer be a requirement for taxi transfers for mobility-impaired passengers from the landing point to the coaches. This was for visitors who had pre-booked coach excursions to explore the island because they were limited in how far they could venture on foot. Cruise brochures produced last year, before facilities were moved to the Albert Pier, would have had no mention of the walk of around 200 metres to the coach departure point. Therefore as an interim measure, cruise operators were provided with a taxi transfer to take mobility-impaired passengers from the end of the Pier to the bus terminus.
Transfers for mobility-impaired passengers had been introduced on a temporary basis while the other arrangements were being trialled, and has cost around £2,000 since the start of the season. These passengers will now be able to join their coach on the pier.
Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq said:
"Like all the other arrangements, this had been put in place with a view to identifying any improvements we could make for this season and in future. For the initial changeover an arrangement was needed that was flexible, while assessments were made of what the requirements are, and which could be adapted as we learned more.
"The issue is one of accessibility. It is important that as a destination we are able to accommodate anyone who may be impaired in terms of their mobility, or other disability. We want to extend the same welcome to these visitors as we do to everyone else."
"It also helps our coach companies and tourist attractions, as it helps ensure maximum accessibility for their potential customers."
The Policy Council's working group will continue to monitor the arrangements for cruise liner passengers and will act quickly if it considers that further changes are needed throughout the 2015 season.
