Outcry over plans to increase parking charge period in Jersey

Drivers in Jersey have been responding to plans to increase the period in which they would have to pay for parking.

Under current plans, motorists pay to use public car parks between 8am and 5pm. However, under the Government Efficiencies Plan, this period could be extended by two hours, running from 7am to 6pm.

Molly Meacham is a personal trainer who works in the centre of St Helier. She says she already feels the cost of parking.

Molly says she already spends more than fifty pounds a week on parking. Credit: ITV Channel TV

The government says the move could bring £700,000 back into the public purse as part of efforts to save £100 million over the next three years.

The States' Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondre says it is a difficult decision that must be made to benefit the environment.

Chief Minister John Le Fondre Credit: ITV Channel TV

When asked if additional bus services could be introduced, the Chief Minister told ITV News there was a 'large sum of money' set aside for a climate emergency fund.

He also said that any decision to introduce more parking officers to enforce the changes would have to be made by the Infrastructure Minister, Deputy Kevin Lewis - but he said that many car parks use number plate recognition and increasing numbers of islanders are using the mobile phone app to pay for parking.