Bank holiday visitors came and went by the boatload. (0780503)

THE consensus here is that if the bank holiday weekend is anything to go by, then the island’s shipping company’s decision to increase prices has not had too marked an effect on numbers.

I saw a couple of ‘fully booked’ signs outside restaurants and heard reports that others in the tourism industry had been forced to turn away customers. In addition, the few conversations I had with visitors indicated that service and quality standards are as high as people either expected or had received on previous visits.

All that suggests that while no one likes increased prices in relation to anything, Sark Shipping does appear to be on course to turn the enterprise around financially – it wasn’t that long ago we were told the company was losing £100,000 a year.

Although it’s early days yet and the difference between success and failure is almost entirely dependent upon weather conditions, it does appear to bear out the view that if people get value for money and an enjoyable day once they get to the top of Harbour Hill then that, rather than the cost of getting to and from here, is likely to be the memory they take home with them.

People do tend to come here when something special is on and the quite remarkable success of the annual Sheep Race meeting and the Festival of the Sea both provide evidence of that. This year the Sheep Race meeting is being held on the weekend of 18-19 July and other events which prove to be a draw for visitors are the Lord’s Taverners cricket match – I have a feeling that’s being held over the first weekend of July – and the garden and produce shows in June and September.

But such appears to be the determination of everyone to demonstrate that Sark is very much open for business that now there are plans for the whole of The Avenue to be closed off to traffic – hopefully that will include bicycles as well as carriages and tractors – for a street market to showcase the very best that Sark has to offer in all manner of things.

The idea has come from Avenue trader Simon Couldridge – the family also operates the popular Caragh’s Chocolate factory and shop on the way to Little Sark – and he wants to add a bit of a party atmosphere by encouraging cafes and restaurants from all over the island, and Sark’s fishermen, to set up alfresco stalls.

He said he hoped the idea would develop to include perhaps street entertainers, buskers and a town crier announcing what’s on offer where, and he added that he was greatly encouraged by the expressions of support he’d received from his fellow Avenue traders and Sark Chamber of Commerce members.

Many of those to whom I have spoken think Simon’s idea is an excellent one and I know that if it does take off successfully he has it in mind to suggest that it’s run several times a year. I hope there’ll be more to say on this before too long.

While on the subject of what brings people here, the Half Term Fun Week is in progress as I write and I’m told that it is providing an opportunity for visiting and local children to meet and get to know each other. There’s a treasure hunt and painting competition which go on for much of the week and it culminates this evening with a Channel Islands Quiz and supper at AJ’s in The Avenue.

I hear that the island’s constables are clamping down on unauthorised tractor journeys up and down Harbour Hill. While most people applaud any measure aimed at reducing unnecessary tractor use, I’m not sure that restricting people fetching those returning from medical treatment in Guernsey by insisting that the ambulance is used (at £50 a round trip) will endear them to many.

The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net