From Peter Falle.
THERE comes a point when greed and avarice triumphs over fairness and common sense.
In this case I refer to the parking regulations that seem only to apply in St Helier just as though it was an independent state, and not part of the Island.
There are, situated at the lower end of Peirson road, four paycard parking spaces. If one is lucky enough to find one vacant during the day, one is prepared to use a paycard and make one’s way up to Cheapside, feeling just a little annoyed that the rest of the road is empty, due to the fact that this road side parking is there for the benefit of the street residents.
On Saturday evening at 6.15 pm we parked in one of the afore-mentioned paycard spaces and, after meeting a guest from the Grand Hotel, we walked to Cheapside to have a Tennerfest early meal.
After a very enjoyable supper, we made our way back towards where we had parked the car, and to accompany this first-time visitor to the Island, back to her hotel.
Halfway down Peirson Road, we noticed a shadowy figure, in a fluorescent jacket, slinking around the corner in front of the hotel. Yes, all four of the cars had been booked, and yes, there is a very small sign on the post stating that paycards must be used between 6 pm and 10 pm, but how can the parish of St Helier possibly justify this when the rest of the road is for the exclusive use of the residents?
I then had to explain that this is the new Jersey way of extorting every penny out of the motorist.
What a wonderful example for a first time visitor to the Island, to see the money grasping ethos of St Helier Town Hall where motorists are concerned.
