From Laura Storey.
I AM astounded to read (JEP, 22 January) that the Transport Minister, Mike Jackson, is considering a number of measures to ease pressure on the town’s increasingly busy road network.
This is at a time when Transport and Technical Services are considering building a very large – 800 spaces I understand – multi-storey car park on the Ann Court site which is right in the centre of town.
In the Framework for Demolition report prepared in October 2008 by Ross Gower Associates and LRL Interests for TTS, Section A, clause 4.1 states that it is proposed that the site is used as a temporary leased dedicated space surface car park to be operated by the States of Jersey. This is a temporary measure while consideration is given to the aforementioned multi-storey. Clause 4.2 of the report states that ‘by virtue of the lease nature of the car park there will not be a high turnover of spaces (as occurs with Pay and Display car parks). The traffic impact will be low.’
If traffic impact will be low as it is not a Pay and Display car park then, should a multi-storey Pay and Display be built when, by the TTS’s consultants’ own admittance in the statement in clause 4.2, the traffic impact will be high?
At a time when the Transport Minister is calling for pressure to be eased on our already over-burdened road network, why is consideration being given to building a multi-storey car park in the centre of town, and demolishing much-needed housing accommodation?
The site is also in a highly residential area with de Quetteville Court, Mary Ann Mews, Maison de Berger and Liberation Court being in the immediate vicinity – and plans for further housing on the old Le Coin Flats and Wesley Chapel in Wesley Street sites.
Not only will there be increased traffic congestion in the surrounding area, a car park in such a residential area will have a detrimental effect of the quality of life of the residents with potential road safety issues, noise and air pollution, together with the anti-social behaviour often associated with car parks, as well as substantially changing the character of the area.
I am aware that Deputy Judy Martin, as well as the Deputies for St Helier No 2 and Senator Breckon are against such a development and, along with the residents in the area, are campaigning against it. I would urge, through your letters page, anyone who is concerned at this proposal to put a multi-storey car park on Ann Court to contact one of these people.
4 Maison de Berger,
32 Providence Street,
St Helier.
