Wednesday 11 November 2015
Media Enquiry from Guernsey Press:
The Guernsey Motor Trade Association has raised some concerns following news of the smaller spaces for Candie Road.
In summary, it claims these small car parking spaces will only be big enough for around a 'dozen new models available today'.
President Dave Beausire said that in a market with a choice of over 150 models, under 10% of them would fit the 3.6 metre spaces, as continued safety technology sees cars increase in length.
Some models that bear the same name as previous years have increased this year past the 3.6m requirement to be able to use these spaces, so people will need to check on the age and model of their car to see if it complies.
I know Environment have looked to increases space sizes in the past, when similar issues have arisen. In light of these concerns, is this something it will consider now or in the future? If it was not considered before, why did Environment not check how many vehicles, old and new, could fit this size space?
Could you come back to me by the end of today?
Environment Department Response:
The Small Car Parking scheme has evolved over the years since it was first introduced on the Careening Hard Arm of the Crown Pier in 2005. At that time the maximum length of cars permitted to park in 'Small Car' spaces was just 3.3m but this soon increased to 3.5m and subsequently to 3.6m under the current scheme.
The scheme is unique to Guernsey and has proved very popular over the years and has now expanded to offer long-term spaces for these popular small cars on the North Beach and Albert Piers in addition to the Crown Pier and, more recently, with four short-term parking spaces at the bottom of Cornet Street.
The proposals in Candie Road are specifically designed to address road safety concerns in the area where currently larger (and by implication wider) vehicles park forcing passing vehicles to mount the pavement directly outside a number of residential properties whose front doors open directly on to the pavement.
In addition to small cars occupying less road space and generally being more fuel efficient than larger cars, the creation of parallel small car parking spaces also allows for additional parking spaces to be created. In the case of Candie Road, this will see one additional space being created. When the small car spaces were first introduced on the Crown Pier in 2005 it created an additional 6 or 7 parking spaces.
Whilst small car parking spaces currently account for less than 3% of all 'approved' and 'disc' parking spaces in St. Peter Port, it is acknowledged that the permitted size of small car park spaces may well need to be reviewed again in the future to take account of the latest changes in manufacturers specifications for small cars.
Contact Information:
Karl Guille, Traffic and Transport Services Manager
Environment Department
Tel: 243400
