Leale’s Yard plans could be too grand
Wednesday 15th April 2009, 2:29PM BST.
THERE are 41 empty shops in Town, according to a survey carried out by Vale deputy Mary Lowe.
She walked from Trinity Square to the Lower Pollet on Friday. Particularly hard hit were Mill Street, Mansell Street and Fountain Street.
‘I didn’t expect anything like this,’ said Deputy Lowe (pictured). ‘I was staggered.’
She said the number of empty shops raised questions about the proposed development at Leale’s Yard, St Sampson’s, where the Co-op has plans for more than 14,000sq. m. of retail space.
‘We do need a development, but I don’t know if it needs to be as large. It is worth reflecting on the latest proposals and the ramifications this may have on our Town.’
She commented that when work was being carried out on the Markets, companies were queuing to fill the space, yet there are still three empty shops.
‘I don’t think this is due to the economic situation, because it was built during the boom time,’ she said. ‘However, it is still empty.’
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People will not rent shops in Mill Street And Mansell Street as the public wont go up there so why waste there money. and as for the rest of town maybe the rents are too high for it to be viable. An area like Leales yard would be better as all the amenities would be in one place.
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Turn the Bridge into a nice big shopping Mall. Bring over Big name High street chain stores, then people may stop going to the UK to go shopping.
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I think the idea is great- but my cynicism says it wont ever happen….
anyway, perhaps a fair point about SOME of the empty shops, but to cite the Fountain Street shops ( aka ex-gabriels)premises isn’t really fair. I have a theory on why those are empty. As a nipper i worked there on saturdays some 12 years ago, and the shopfloors were run down, but the upstairs? The storerooms had rot and jagged holes in wooden floorboards everywhere, non-existant/sub-standard toilet/washing facilities.. Health and safety would have had a field day!- why WOULD any one want to rent them in that condition…
I think the reason so many shops in the town are empty is becuse greedy landlords are expecting £££££ for &£$” !!!. Reasonable prices would, im sure, result in better uptake
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Cheaper anhd better in France: not so far to travel, good service. made welcome
After all our Duke gave the other lot a right old do once; and they are nearer related than the other lot.
I’m all for going back to our roots
And once again be called Les Illes Normandie’
Oo lala, Vive La Normandie.
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Eric – interesting post.
How about going back to be called Festung Guernsey?
You could promote Lyndon to Herr Trott?
And Dave to Festungspionierkommadeur Jones ?
John you make a perinent observation about the foottraffic around those deserted areas; they have always been fairly empty even in the times of boom – perhaps Mary has not walked anywhere before?
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I agre with everyone who says that it is probably becuase people don’t want to go to certain parts of town, the shops are run down and rents are too high.
I would also add that we are in the middle of a financial crisis with huge amounts of uncertainty and banks not lending money to new buisnesses. I’m nto surprised that none of these shops are being filled.
But, I am 100% sure that we will not be in the same position in 10 years time (or even 5) whcih i’m sure is the earliest we will see the fruit of the leale’s yard project.
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Sorry, but ‘I walked through town and saw some empty shops’ is hardly a survey. In the same way that this article is hardly a story… If the Co-op are going to invest a significant sum on Leale’s yard they will be doing so based on a sound business case and will have taken professional advice. Why are politicians worrying about whether people will shop there… it’s not their problem or area of expertice. If Leale’s yard has the right shops and feel people will shop there and a thriving shopping centre will be the result (and knock on benefits to the rest of St Sampsons). Cut the red tape and let them get on with it.
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I know – lets stop the sprawling developments of glass front buildings and make the environment department ensure that no new office space buildings are constructed until the current structures are filled.
This will require relaxation of ‘use’ licences for premises.
It will mean that more businesses are locaed into the areas. Which will mean more passers by, more office renovations / conversions and reduction in the sprawling nature of St Peter Port.
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I think they are assuming that people actually do their shopping in town. I rarely go into town because there are zero facilities for children. I do 99% of my (non-grocery) shopping online as do most of my friends…and i shop a lot!
If there was somewhere with facilities for children then i and a lot of other people would be spending our money there instead.
If its undercover, has highchairs, hygenic change facilities & somewhere for the kids to play then my wallet and i am there.
Opening the shops on sunday would be helpful too as often it is the only day where i can get out by myself -too bad shops are closed, oh well i will just have to spend my money online.
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two point’s
Who on earth want’s to shop in town these days. you’ve only really got the Creasey empire or a thew small shops.. you’ve got to flight for parking and walk for miles. Unless you work in town it’s not worth going these days.. If you buy online you can do it from home in your own time…
Point 2. Have you seen some of the rents that charge for these shops. A shop in the arcade can ciost you 80k a year. I wonder why there are so many empty shops..
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Lots of empty shops in Mill Street / Mansell Street area.
Very little parking in Mill Street / Mansell Street area.
Any connection ?
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Darren;
With all the rubbish coming from England; makes it absolutely sure that they not only occupy our Island but also Northern Island;
How do I know this about Ireland; because the Blarney stone is in Ireland. Near Cork as a matter of fact…
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“you’ve got to flight for parking and walk for miles” Never had a problem parking never had to walk more than 200 metres.
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Eric
Whatever you are drinking – I’ll have a pint of that please….
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Melc, point 1 – ‘fight for parking…. walk for miles…’ – that is a seriously lazy attitude. What’s the worst case scenario? Salarie corner car park during the working week? That must be a whole 5 minute walk from the Pollet. Worst worst worst case scenario, get the bus and you’ll be a whopping minute from the High Street (assuming you get off at the Crown Pier and can be bothered to haul your lame backside up the steps by the Candy Shop).
Judging by the comments, it’s not just Melc with the lazy attitude to shopping. If a few minutes walk after parking your car (for free) is too much for you then best stay at home and waste away.
Aside from the laziness comments, Town shopping is generally crap and I’d rather get it cheaper on the internet, delivered to my doorstep. Let’s watch those shop numbers continue to drop….. a sad thought, but it is reality.
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Russ…
It’s not a laziness issue..
It’s a time issue..
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Melc
Spot on re the time issue.
Methinks Russ might be retired with sod all to do but take a leisurely morning stroll through Town whenever the mood takes him.
I base this thought on his suggestion that you should consider catching a bus to do do your shopping. I reckon you would need to set aside best part of a full day to take that route.
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Eric – please clarify, I’m slightly worried.
Parking in town is not really an issue, you just need to know the good places. So what if you have to walk for three minutes to the shops.
Mary Lowe’s comments seem to be based a quick stroll through an area of town that has traditionally struggled for tenants and she has made herself look foolish in doing so. The Leales Yard Development will be based on years of careful commercial strategy planning using very expensive ‘Marketing Intelligence’ software and data. Therefore there is an extremely good chance that it will succeed.
If the development does reduce footfall in Town then it will eventually drive down rents and in-turn allow a greater number and diversity of shops in the area.
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