Sir, a few months ago my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. In the last few weeks, because of paid parking, I have seriously wondered whether we would make it to 26. It has certainly become undoubtedly clear to me, if I did not know it before, that many people have strong views on this issue.
As I stated a couple of weeks ago, I have always had an open mind about the merits, or otherwise, of paid parking. I have no particular idealistic or philosophical view on it. I spent the last couple of months listening to the arguments on both sides. I have researched the matter and read various academic papers on the subject. Research papers tend to support it, citing it as a means to combat wasted time, money, congestion and pollution – basically saying we are actually paying a high price for so called free parking.
I get that. But I also get that is means that some people will be affected – those that have to park, who have no private space or other alternatives. I also know that there are no guarantees that implementing it in some areas will not cause problems elsewhere.
But Deputy Kuttelwascher says, „We already have a transport strategy so I do not need to vote for it.
That is okay then.‟ Well, yes, there is the remnants of a transport strategy that goes back to 2006 – astrategy that would bring in travel plans for Sir Charles Frossard House and the PEH, a Strategy that would take account of cycling needs for new developments.
So eight years later where are we? Well, the parking problems at Sir Charles Frossard House indicate that there is no successful travel plan. We have a car park at the PEH that has probably doubled in size since 2006 and the last time I looked there was no cycle path anywhere near.
At the time it was written, the bus service was so popular according to the 2006 report that people were being turned away from the bus stops because they were so full. Average occupancy was 18. Now it is less than nine. Well, that has worked out well then. (Interjections)
This was a strategy that was committed to compulsory emissions and noise testing. Where is that? A strategy that proposed paid parking, approved, then thrown out and here we are today. A strategy more disintegrated than integrated.
So we come on to the question, do we really need one? Isn‟t everything fine apart from some rush hour traffic? Well, Deputy Burford got me thinking when she talked two weeks ago about going on the bus with herson. She made me think about how my children get around now and how I travelled around before I came to Guernsey. My mum never drove and when I was a young child we went everywhere by foot and bus. I went to school by bus, I went to town by bus and I went to my friends‟ houses by bus. Why? Well, it was cheap. It was not free, but it was cheap. But the real reason was the service was brilliant. And in the summer there were additional scheduled open top buses, named after the famous Devonians such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, that were incredibly popular and a real draw for the tourist. So I grew up used to a great bus service, but never really thought about it. I then lived in London and got around by bus most of time for those six years that I was there.
Then I came to Guernsey and for the first time in my life I realised I needed a car, which actually meant I needed to learn to drive. I just had not had to before. I did try using public transport for the first year, but the last bus I could get was at 5.30 p.m. at night. Great if you are someone who works 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but not if deadlines have to be met and overtime is required and expected.
Cycling was out of the question as there was nowhere to put a bike and nowhere to change at the office, and frankly back then I did not have the confidence to cycle amongst the traffic. So that was another driver on Guernsey roads because there was no viable alternative. And things have not got better in the last 20 odd years.
I spoke about two weeks ago about how I was concerned that paid parking would make us more like Little England. Well, I have now come to the conclusion – having seen road rage, selfish and intolerant driving and having had a journey that took half an hour to travel a couple of miles in the last two weeks – that our roads are like that already. So, no, we do not have an integrated transport strategy and, yes, I want one.
I want an integrated transport strategy because my daughter should be able to get a bus or walk the two miles to college without endangering her life every time she has to cross a main arterial road on a blind corner because the pavement just disappears. I want an integrated transport strategy because there is something wrong somewhere when my son cannot get a bus in the morning to the grammar school, but he can get one on the way back.
I want an integrated transport strategy for the sake of our visitor economy because I want Guernsey to be a place that tourists want to come to, even come back to, and not comment on how busy the roads are. I want an integrated transport strategy as I do not want Guernsey to continue to have unacceptable pollution levels because of vehicle congestion. I want an integrated transport strategy as I do not want to see the Health Services bill continue to grow to pay for the literally growing obesity problem on this Island.
I want an integrated transport strategy as I am fed up being made to feel that, as a cyclist, I do notbelong on the road. When I am not the one creating the potholes, but have to endanger my life swerving into the middle of the road to avoid them and have to pay for PSD to fill them in from the taxes I pay.
I want an integrated transport strategy as without one we are sending all the wrong messages to thepeople of Guernsey now and in the future. We say we really do not care about all the implications of continuing as we are. A properly funded integrated transport strategy has been long overdue.
So whilst I am no fan of paid parking and really and truly struggle accepting it, for me, the need for an integrated transport strategy is indisputable and paid parking is the least worst option to pay for it. I question the comments I have heard here about needing to be brave and courageous. For me, bravery is when someone risks their live to rescue someone else from a burning building, and any way being brave does not necessarily mean being right. Anyone who knows anything about the Charge of the Light Brigade could tell you that.
For me, it is about getting something done. Doing nothing is not an option and, on that basis, I will support Proposition 5 and I would urge all other Members to do likewise.