Retail Sub Committee     Spring 2007 Newsletter

Dear Fellow Retailer

The beginning of April is here and as I write this the first cruise ship of the season is at anchor outside the harbour! What will 2007 have is store for us? I am sure there will be many fresh challenges but many of the issues that we faced in 2006 will still occupy us, both as individual businesses and within the Chamber’s Retail Committee.

Hot of the press is the news that the States have agreed to press ahead with paid parking. As you know this is to be introduced on the North Beach, Salerie and Odeon car parks and some long-stay road side spaces at a charge of 15p per hour. I am sure your fears are like mine, how will this effect our employees and our customers? Is it the thin edge of the wedge, how long will it be before short term car parking is included? Will it eventually include areas outside St Peter Port, how long will it be before 15p becomes 20p, 25p etc?  I did have a conversation with Deputy Brouard to encourage him with his amendment and in the end the he got within 3 votes of overthrowing the Policy. Maybe we (collectively) could or should have lobbied harder but I can understand that many members of the States felt that another U turn was not good government and that at, some stage, paid parking would be inevitable and this was the best way it introduce a scheme of some sort.

Also in the States debate at the end of March was the vote in favour of obtaining professional advice on concepts and ideas for our east coast. I should tell you that I have, as an individual, supported a scheme that looks at the harbour and the “front” from the Salerie to Havelet. This scheme provides additional parking on both the North and South sides of St Peter Port and it involve pedestrianising the “front” with access limited to buses and delivery vehicles (I hope). We hope by floating these ideas that some aspects may find favour and can be achieved relatively quickly, others made never happen or at least not in the foreseeable future. The point is that many people see St Peter Port and our harbour as the jewel in the crown and the scheme tries to enhance the harbour and our inaction with it, without the dominance of the motor car either parked on all the piers or moving in 4 lanes of traffic dividing the commercial part of town and the harbour. Please let me have your views, my contact details are below.

Last Autumn we sent around a questionnaire, thank you to those of you that responded. The results were as follows:-

·         72% reported their turnover up to Nov in 2006 was either level or ahead of 2005, that meant a significant number 28% were actually down.

·         Some 15% suggested that we did indeed need more retail space, but the vast majority (85%) saw little need for further retail space to be developed.

·         64% want to re-cycle more of their waste material and 51% stated that better services were required, although a significant number did not wish to pay more for such services.

This last question was topical at the time because the Waste Strategy was back before the States, as you know we seem unlikely to be installing a huge mass burn incinerator, this decision has put the focus back onto re-cycling initiatives. Bob Bartlett is representing Chamber on a re-cycling working party and would welcome your views. I am convinced we all need to do more to hit the re-cycling targets and I regret that some of the initiatives will incur a cost. On the other hand the alternatives are even more expensive and almost certainly not good for our Island in the longer term.

At the Chamber AGM Paul Luxon (from CIMandis part of CI Traders) was elected as the Vice-President, whilst Paul’s work is on the wholesale and manufacturing aspects of CIT he will be an ally for the Retail and Service sector and we welcome him to Chamber Council.

On a sad note Terry Ferbrache stood down from Council and did not seek re-election. He has also decided to take a break from this sub committee. I should like to thank him for his efforts on behalf of this sector, Terry worked tirelessly behind the scenes particularly in matters relating to education, training and careers, he was also a link to Festive Décor and the Town Carnival.  Whilst mentioning people there is a new person at the helm of Festive Décor, Martine Ellis (ex YBG President) is now in the chair as Scott Carre has stepped aside, thank you Scott for the efforts you made to raise funds for the town lights and to ensure that the town looked appropriately festive in December.

We have a full agenda and I hope we continue to express the views that the majority of Retailers would agree with to Chamber Council, States Departments and the media. If you would be interested in joining the Committee we would like to hear from you.

Tony Creasey

Sub Committee Chairman

Direct dial 738227       (anthony.creasey@creaseys.com) or c/o the Chamber address above

PS This Newsletter is being circulated to all Retail Members of Chamber and other traders, if you are not a member of Chamber please consider joining. There are important challenges ahead for Guernsey, Chamber will be expected to put across the commercial view to the States on the topics of the day. PLEASE JOIN CHAMBER SO THAT YOUR VIEWS CAN BE HEARD. For further information contact Mike Collins, Chamber Director, at the above address.