LE POLLET should be closed to traffic to make room for smokers. During the first weekend under the new ban, BarBados general manager Pat Anslow said it had struggled to control the number of people who gathered outside the nightclub to smoke or queue.

He added that it was dangerous to have lots of people on the pavement outside the club, especially with passing traffic.

‘Ideally, it would be great if it was closed and only open at certain times to let deliveries in. But another solution is to close it off from 9pm to 3am,’ he said.

‘Certainly, we could stop parking in the area on Friday and Saturday nights.’

Town Centre Partnership chief executive and St Peter Port North deputy Jack Honeybill said: ‘I’m all in favour of it because that area is no-go at some times and anything that can help clear the area is a good thing.’

He added that the concept would work well with plans to make the North Plantation traffic-free as part of proposals to redevelop it into an alfresco dining area.

‘I think it would be a very good idea.’

But he correctly warned that Le Pollet restaurateur Nello Ciotti would object.

The Da Nello owner said his customers liked to be dropped off at and picked up from outside his establishment.

‘They have to address the smoking thing in another way. There are still a lot of people who get driven here,’ said Mr Ciotti.

About 1,000 customers go to BarBados on a weekend night and customers accessing Club 54 also pass through the area.

Mr Anslow said his club had received no help from Environmental Health about how to deal with the smokers once outside.

‘We are looking for advice about what we should do when everyone is on the pavement.

‘We were lucky because it did not rain, but there is the potential for problems somewhere down the line.’

He said the flow of people outside the club meant that people were buying fewer drinks.

‘It’s not impossible, it’s just made us 100% more vigilant and 100% more proactive.

‘It is just a headache we could have done without.’

Pubs hit in the tills Page 5