Town trader fears Leale’s Yard build will be damaging
Friday 29th May 2009, 1:00PM BST.
Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Retails sub-committee and Creasey’s MD Tony Creasey is worried about the effect Leale’s Yard development will have on Town traders and has written a letter to the States.(Picture by Peter Frankland, 0780849)
A TOWN trader is calling for an independent review into the Leale’s Yard Development over fears that the plans could serious damage St Peter Port businesses.
Tony Creasey, managing director of Creasey’s and chairman of the Chamber of Commerce retail sub-committee, believes St Peter Port trade could fade away if the St Sampson’s development goes ahead.
‘I am concerned about the scale of the development,’ he said.
‘My judgement is that it will impact Town trade. The States policy is to retain St Peter Port as the retail centre, but this would split shops between Town and St Sampson’s.’
A recent survey showed there were 41 empty shops in Town, and Mr Creasey believes this would rise if the development went ahead.
‘Nearly the entire retail space of St Peter Port could fit in the Leale’s Yard space,’ he said. ‘It could be very damaging for St Peter Port and lead to more empty shops.’
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Competition does that!
I do not think that the average person who works in town all day will get their car drive to the Bridge and buy items which they would normally buy in town, at one of Mr Creasey’s many shops.
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Just another example of the good old Guernsey fear of change!!! I think it’ll be good to have more down the bridge, at the end of the day if they reduced the rent of the shops in town then more poeple may be able to keep their shops open!!!
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I do sympathise with small businesses however I’m afraid Tony Creasey’s complaints fall on deaf ears. Perhaps I’m being a little cynical but I doubt his concerns are for the little guy, more likely he is reluctant to accept any challengers on his stomping ground.
Creaseys have had it comparitively easy for years in comparison to retail businesses elsewhere, now it seems they don’t like the idea of others trunking in on their patch. Well, that’s business my friend – get used to it!
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I really feel for Mr Creasey. I think he had better seriously think about shutting down his M & S branch in the old St Davids building, (which I believe is in St Sampson) if he is loosing so much trade in his town branches.
I can only think there is some self interest in this story i.e he is worried about competition from the Co Op.
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Didn’t Best Foods have to close a year or two ago as a direct result of competition from Mr Creasey’s new M&S Food Store in St Martin’s?
What goes around…..
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To heck with certain alleged aspects of the retail policy if it can be interpretated by any one that it is a charter to proffer a suggestion, such as what I have just read in this newspaper article. What is this the mafia????????????? The shopkeepers who have been operating in ST SAMPSONS or anywhere else in the island for that matter are entitled to make a living as well. Of course I sympathise with small business, but for anyone to suggest no new houses, ect are not built in ST SAMPSONS or anywhere because it would be detremental to existing businesses anywhere, is I CONSIDER OBSCENE. Let the people vote with their money and or their feet. Competition one of the most important aspects of ensuring that the consumer has a fair deal.
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