Location of 16 disabled parking spaces decided

The Infrastructure and Environment Department said it hoped additional space could also be found

Locations for an additional 16 disabled parking spaces in Jersey's capital have been identified by government officials.

It follows pressure from disability campaigners about the lack of access for disabled people in St Helier.

Disability rights campaigner Jackie Hilton had written to the Minister for Infrastructure, Constable Andy Jehan, raising concerns about the progress of additional Blue Badge spaces.

In response, Constable Jehan said the location of new spaces had been decided in September and he planned to contact all badge-holders with their location soon.

'Repaint some lines'

A meeting to discuss the needs of Blue Badge motorists was held in Jersey at the end of June.

Mrs Hilton, who is a Blue Badge-holder, wrote to the infrastructure minister in September, expressing her disappointment at the lack of action in delivering the additional spaces mentioned in the meeting.

"I cannot understand, for instance, why it should take so long to repaint some lines on New Street where at least four additional Blue Badge spaces could have been created, without any impact on the spaces for the disabled minibuses which occasionally use New Street," she said.

She added: "You did also confirm you were considering allowing Blue Badge-holders to use Broad Street again as long as it did not impact on the unloading spaces.

"I think the mood of the meeting made it very clear to you how much people would appreciate this."

New road markings

In response, Constable Jehan said he walked around St Helier with Constable Simon Crowcroft in September and identified a number of spaces to convert for Blue Badge-holders.

"We will soon be writing to all Blue Badge-holders confirming the locations of 16 new disabled parking spaces in St Helier," he said.

"I hope that further additional spaces will follow in the near future."

He added: "We will also be trialling some new road markings to make disabled bays more identifiable, and are conducting a survey of all Blue Badge-holders to seek views on the scheme and help us formulate improvements."

The Infrastructure and Environment Department said it planned to establish a focus group to help gather views from all badge-holders.