Guernsey Parents Call for Dedicated Parent-Child Parking Spaces

Calls Grow for Wider Family Parking Spaces in Guernsey

# Calls for Parent-Child Parking Spaces in Guernsey Car Parks Calls are growing for dedicated parent-child parking spaces in Guernsey as parents say existing car park spaces can make it difficult to get young children safely in and out of vehicles. Victoria Roberts has started a petition calling for safer family parking after experiencing difficulties parking with her baby. She said parents need additional space to remove equipment from their vehicles, including car seats and prams, making standard parking bays difficult to use. ## Calls for Wider Parking Spaces Roberts is calling on the States to introduce designated parent-child spaces in the four town car parks, with clear signs explaining who can use them and the conditions. She believes a pilot could be introduced now and used to help inform wider decisions about parking in Guernsey. The Committee for Environment and Infrastructure said any decision would be evidence-led and would need to consider accessibility, safety, cost, enforceability and site constraints. The committee also highlighted Guernsey's limited land area when considering how parking provision can be managed. Roberts said she had heard concerning experiences from other parents who had avoided travelling into town or attending baby classes because of parking difficulties. Other islanders have also raised concerns about the size of existing parking spaces and the challenges faced by families. Catherine Godeon said the current situation was difficult for parents trying to get children in and out of vehicles, particularly in challenging weather conditions. Her partner Connor Godeon said the family often uses Waitrose because it has designated family parking spaces. He also suggested that Guernsey should consider parent-child spaces and special parking permits for parents during the first months after having a newborn. ## Wider Accessibility Concerns The debate is not limited to parents and young children, with concerns also being raised about parking for elderly people and those with mobility issues or disabilities. Deputy Le Brun said Guernsey's parking spaces should be widened to accommodate modern vehicle standards and called for people with greater accessibility needs to be prioritised. He argued that parking should focus on providing the best possible experience for islanders rather than simply accommodating the volume of vehicles. The Committee for Environment and Infrastructure said it recognised the importance of accessible and usable parking while also pointing to the island's limited space. Alexa Oliver-Pickford said there was a definite need for larger parking spaces, particularly for families with several children and larger vehicles. For parents, wider or dedicated bays could make it easier to open vehicle doors fully and safely use car seats and buggies. However, parent-child parking spaces have not been confirmed as a new policy across Guernsey's public car parks. The States is expected to consider the issue alongside wider questions around accessibility, safety, cost and the practical limits of available parking space. The debate highlights how the design and size of parking bays can affect different groups of motorists, particularly families who need additional room around their vehicles.