A Park and Ride scheme is being trialled in Jersey, running from St Brelade to town.

Islanders can park for free at the Airport Playing Fields car park in St Brelade and take the bus to town.

The trial scheme aims to get commuters switching to public transport, benefiting the environment as well as saving them money that they otherwise would have had to spend parking in St Helier. 

This week's Park and Ride roll-out follows a suggestion of a similar base and scheme from climate group Jersey in Transition. 

The group wanted to see the Airport Village area, which was used as a Covid testing site during the pandemic, used for parking.

However, as that land is not government-owned, the Airport Playing Fields car park is being used instead. 

Jersey in Transition's proposed site for Park and Ride 

Andy Jehan, Minister for Infrastructure, thinks the scheme will have a lot of benefits for islanders: 

"The idea is that you'll have free parking at St Brelade, rather than paying for parking in town... and you can get the bus, which is a lot cheaper than parking in St Helier. 

"You don't have the running costs and you don't have the stress of driving in the traffic. Hopefully people who don't live near a bus stop and who don't currently get on the bus will find it an easier way to travel into town.

"The permits will tell us whether its been successful of not. The car park is monitored so we'll be measuring how many cars are in that car park with permits. 

"But whether it is successful or not, we're looking at other sites already to see if we can find places that don't have such a frequent bus service so we can put Park and Ride in place to try and encourage people to use alternative means (of transport)."

Minister for Infrastructure Andy Jehan

Islanders looking to get involved in the scheme can pick up a permit application form from reception at Les Quennevais Sports Centre. 

Permit holders will then be able to park at the Airport Playing Field from 6am - 7pm.