Feb 27 - Government Says Traffic Planning Should Be Done By Experts And Not Politicians “Seeking To Score Points”
The Government has reacted to comments made by the Opposition spokesman on Traffic and Transport but says it is saddened that he should use the term ‘schizophrenia’ in such a thoughtless way adding that sufferers from this chronic, severe, and disabling disorder will be particularly upset that he should misuse this medical term for cheap political gain.
The Government also notes that Mr Figueras attributes Gibraltar’s ‘dire state of parking and traffic problems’ to a Government which has been in office for a little over two years. Yet again, the Number 6 statement continues, he overlooks the fact that the Government inherited these self- same traffic parking problems when it took over from a GSD administration that had been in office for 16 years but yet made minimal improvements to Gibraltar’s transport infrastructure.
The statement continues:
In the last two years, this Government has hugely improved the bus service and made it free to most users and it has provided a car park on Queensway that is bigger than the old one at Commonwealth Parade. The Opposition should also understand that there is no dichotomy between having a Green agenda and the provision of a more parking spaces. The people of Gibraltar will be pleased to have both a beautiful park and a bigger and better car park – it isn’t a case of ‘you can have one or the other’ as the Opposition seem to suggest.
In addition to the Queensway car park, this Government has provided a temporary car park on the site of the old RGYC, completed a new residents’ car park on Engineers Lane and another one at South Pavilion. Indeed, many motorists would say that it is easier to find somewhere to park today than it was three years ago. Nor should we forget that the GSD’s contribution to the parking problem was to build a huge multi-storey car park on Devil’s Tower Road which still lies half-empty and under-used because it was built in the wrong place. This Government has already announced a major car park on the site of the old naval grounds that will take about 1000 cars, another one on the site of the old air terminal and a third on the plot next to St Anne’s School.
Another example of poor planning by the last administration was the redesigning of the Trafalgar Interchange which was done with little recourse to professional, specialist advice. The new traffic flow now causes major congestion along Queensway and was done with total disregard and disrespect for pedestrians who cannot possibly safely navigate the new interchange. It’s a pity that the Opposition did not invest in the sort of expert advice being provided by a comprehensive Sustainable Transport, Traffic and Parking Plan when they had the chance.
And, on the subject of bicycles, frankly the Government is amazed that Mr Figueras seems to think that a few bike racks would solve Gibraltar’s traffic problems – especially after the GSD’s GibiBikes fiasco.
Finally, the Government notes that the Opposition have jumped on the political bandwagon hoping to score political points by supporting the fixed speed cameras and penalty points campaign and ‘is keen to assist the Government, should it decide to pursue these measures, in any way it can.’ The Government notes this offer of GSD advice but, instead, has chosen to take the advice of qualified transport experts - the issues of speed cameras and fixed penalty points is already being studied in depth as part of this important Plan.
We expect to receive the Sustainable Transport, Traffic and Parking Plan later this year but we will not be rushed merely at the behest of Mr Figueras. This plan, which is crucial for Gibraltar’s future, is being developed by qualified, experienced transport specialists and not by Opposition politicians seeking to score a few quick party- political points and who should be ashamed at their failure, when in office, to resolve the issues that they are now complaining about.
