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A group of blue-badge holders are campaigning for the return of disabled parking spaces to Broad Street after the road was pedestrianised in 2020.
Jackie Hilton, a former politician and member of the Facebook Disability Parking Group, has requested a meeting with the Infrastructure Minister and the Constable of St Helier to discuss the issue, which she said makes disabled islanders feel “forgotten”.
And the Infrastructure Minister has said he will respond to her request "as soon as possible".
Broad Street was first pedestrianised in May 2020 to support social distancing in King Street and at the Charing Cross intersection during the pandemic.
In the summer of 2021, a further 12 months of closure was agreed following a proposition from St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft – and the disabled bays have not returned since some traffic has been allowed to re-enter.
Ms Hilton, speaking to Express, said: "With an ageing population, the needs of the elderly and disabled will continue to grow and we feel not enough is being done to address the issue of accessible parking spaces to enable the disabled to access the popular areas of shopping provided especially in King Street, which helps towards their feelings of independence and inclusion within the community they live in.
"I'm representing blue badge holders and the elderly who are not blue badge holders – these spaces were hugely beneficial for all those who are not so able on their feet."
Pictured: "...Not enough is being done to address the issue of accessible parking spaces," said former Deputy Jackie Hilton.
She added that she had requested a meeting with Ministers so that blue-badge holders could "relay to them the problems that they face on a daily basis, with the hope of being listened to".
"For some people, including myself, to walk any distance at all with shopping is extremely problematic, so the closer you are to that area, the easier it is," she explained.
"We're beginning to feel that we're a forgotten group of people, and it's been a great loss since Broad Street has been closed."
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan, who has responsibility for the States road, said: "I have received a request for a meeting with islanders regarding disabled parking and will respond to that request directly as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, Constable of St Helier Simon Crowcroft said the space had become a "new square" around Charing Cross and that the space was "beneficial" to town and Islanders.
He said: "We're in a state of flux with Broad Street, and it hasn't developed into the destination that I think it will become after further consultation with the Economic Development Minister and with developments in the area.
"A dozen people per day would benefit from parking on that road, but hundreds of people would benefit from that space as a pedestrianised, alfresco area in town."
He added that disabled parking spaces lost from Broad Street had been replaced with other spaces elsewhere in town.
FOCUS: Closing Broad Street...how the debate played out (2021)
Keep Broad Street closed - but beautify it, says report (2021)
Broad Street to become traffic-free zone (2020)
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