Concern around airport parking changes and signs

Islanders have raised concerns about Jersey airport's new parking layout, questioning the visibility of signs and the transparency of charges.

One driver was unexpectedly charged £36.38 for a 12-minute stay while another described having difficulties reading the "menu" of parking options from his vehicle.

Another said he was worried the overall changes, including an overhaul of the departures area, were "destroying the unique character of the island".

In response Ports of Jersey said it would "review the signage to ensure it meets customer expectations," and deputy Samantha Gleave said the modernisation of the airport would benefit the island as a whole.

Trevor Copp, who's in his 80s, faced an unexpected charge from Ports of Jersey when he accidentally drove into the new premium parking area, having failed to notice the new signs in the dark.

He said: "I think £3 a minute is a bit over the top. Exeter is quite expensive, London airports are quite expensive but £3 a minute? I said it wasn't clearly displayed by the machine."

Visitors can park for 45 minutes for free in the new long-stay car park, as part of new changes. This area joins the new premium parking area, the arrivals car park, and the drop-off zone, as places people can park.

Steven Laffoley-Edwards said he has struggled to read the new signs.

"I'm quite badly dyslexic and you come off the roundabout and there's a whole menu of options on the sign to tell you where to go", he said.

"The only thing I could do was slow down to a near stop, read all the options before finding where I had to go to pick someone up. I think the signage just needs to be shorter, clearer, bigger and bolder."

The new signs come alongside a £10m transformation of the departures area, which was built in 1997.

Fergus Winchester said he was concerned about the wider changes: "The Ports of Jersey have destroyed the unique character of the airport... departing through a faceless cafe when I passed through I could have been anywhere."

Gleave, chair of the economic and international affairs panel, said: "It's a change of layout and some people have been really used to it operating in a certain way and have gone in without really looking at the signs.

"But we have spoken to the airport about that and they are looking to look at how to increase transparency so people are not caught out."

She recently had a tour of the departures lounge which is under construction and said the changes would be "positive".

She said: "I have been told categorically that there are no plans to introduce charging for drop off or for collecting and that there will always be a free option available at Jersey airport.

"I think the modernisation that is going on at the airport at the moment needs to be celebrated.

"The airport is the last experience that our visitors have of the island and for anyone stuck at the airport for four hours, you need that to be a positive one."

Ports of Jersey said: "We're very sorry that one of our customers found the car park charges sign at the entrance was not clear enough. We really appreciate their feedback.

"As we invest in the car park at Jersey Airport, it's important to us that customers are easily able to use the car parks and are clearly able to find any applicable charges.

"We will review the signage to ensure it meets customer expectations."

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