Markets row is ‘mindless criticism’
Thursday 24th July 2008, 11:30AM BST.
TRADITIONAL traders have been pushed out of the ‘soulless’ Markets, according to Deputy Dave Jones. He said the introduction of more UK stores was avoiding the question of what had happened to the original traders – but Brett Allen, director of Markets developer McAulay, said the comments were yet more mindless criticism.
The Housing minister said local traders had gradually been eased out and to keep calling the building a market was an insult to its vibrant and historic past.
But Mr Allen said Deputy Jones was just romanticising the past. ‘Dave Jones would say we don’t need more retail, let’s get back to the smell of fish, donkey poo and gin – and traffic fumes in the Market Square area,’ he said.
Deputy Jones said predictions he made when the building was passed to McAulay had all come true. ‘I said the development would end up looking just like every other bland shopping mall in almost every English town. This has now become fact and the promises which were made to our local market traders, that they would be protected and looked after, have proved to be worthless,’ he said.
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I have to agree with Deputy Jones on this one. The gradual exclusion of traditional market traders is dispicable if not unexpected.
The Market redevelopment is indistinguishable from any modern shopping mall in the UK. The likes of McAulay, or any other big developer, will always opt for a tried and tested planning scheme (no matter how bland) and retention of ‘character’ will always be a secondary consideration.
So it is with the Market and so it will be with Herm if a large luxury hotel chain get their hands on it. Beware Guernsey – the States have proved to have a complete lack of foresight in such matters – they sanctioned the ruination of our Market and I don’t trust them to protect and preserve Herm, perhaps our most precious asset.
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It is a great sadness to all those who remember the days when the market was a “real market”.
Where there was life and vitality, colour and variety. Nobody is romancing the past, it is a fact that the grey, windswept, desolate areas
surrounding the market are definitly user unfriendly, and only come alive for a few summer months. Likewise, Market Street is now empty. So, the responsibility for this must rest firmly on the shoulders of the the States of Guernsey and the miopic ministers. The heart of St.Peter Port is gone, and like Deputy Jones, i regret this.
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I agree wholeheartedly with Deputy Jones. The death of the Guernsey trader is fast approaching. The states had a unique opportunity with the markets to blend desirable UK stores with support for local retailers. The result is indicative of the impossibility of small retailers to succeed. By the way the excellent entertainment laid on this last week with the Clowns outside the square was much welcomed, however the noise from the work going on in the square in the height of summer was unbelievable
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Just at a time when Farmers markets are more popular than ever, the markets are a wasted opportunity. “Romancing about the past” – what rubbish is that man talking about – I suggest he goes and takes a look around the farmers market at Castel on a Saturday, or the execllent one at Saumarez Manor. Mr Allen will soon realise that the smell of fish and donkey poo is exactly what we want. People are tired of sterile, tired of plastic around everything, tired of consumerism. People want local food, to meet the producers and get involved with their community. It leaves me asking who is the one that is behind the times here. Mr Allen is still living in the 1990′s. Wake up. We want our markets – pushing out the traders was a disgrace; that the States sanctioned. Shame on you all.
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