AN overnight parking trial for campervans has been ‘set up to fail’ and is ‘laughable’, a member of the campervan community has said.
Paul Hymas said that the government had not consulted with the public on the scheme, and believes the number of restrictions in place will discourage people from signing up.
The year-long trial – confirmed earlier this week by the government – covers four marked spaces in the southern end of the popular Le Port parking area in St Ouen’s Bay.
Islanders can book to stay in one of the spaces from 9pm until 9am. However, they can only make a booking 48 hours before they want to park and can only book for one night in every seven.
Drinking alcohol is not permitted in the parking spaces.
Mr Hymas said: ‘The scheme has been set up to fail. There are so many restrictions in place that it will discourage people from using these spaces.
‘The whole point of camping down there is so you can enjoy the long summer evenings and then wake up, enjoy the morning, and have breakfast down there.
‘By only allowing the space from 9pm until 9am, you won’t get to enjoy the evening or morning down there. The sun will have almost set by the time you get into the space.’
He added: ‘There has been absolutely no consultation on this, it is laughable.’
Earlier this month, the JEP revealed that Mr Hymas was planning a protest on 11 June against the government’s lack of action to identify new campervan sites around the Island.
He said it had been almost three years since the States Assembly backed Senator Steve Pallett’s proposition for new sites to be investigated – after a crackdown on overnight stays in the Le Port parking area.
‘I could have come up with this scheme in five minutes.
‘In three years they have not found any alternative sites. They have also only marked four spaces – what about the rest of the campervans?’ he said.
‘Clearly the work has not gone in and they have done a rush job after noticing that we are planning a protest.’
Mr Hymas said the scheme had only added ‘fuel to the fire’.
‘Since the scheme launched, I have had so many people get in touch because they want to join the protest.
‘I will be boycotting the scheme because, once again, it only highlights the incompetency of this government,’ he said.
‘With the election coming up, we want the future Council of Ministers to take notice and to take action.’
