GUERNSEY as a community must decide what its priorities are and that will inform the decision on how much retail space is appropriate at Leale’s Yard, a retail expert said yesterday.

John Hollis led global management consultants Accenture’s Retail and Consumer Products practice in the UK and Europe before retiring to the island in 2006. His clients included Tesco, B&Q and Coca-Cola.

A Commerce and Employment-commissioned report on the retail industry was released this week. It suggested the island take a ‘pick and mix’ approach between developing Leale’s Yard and focusing on the regeneration of Town.

Mr Hollis (pictured) agreed with the report’s recommendation that the Co-op should be allowed to develop the St Sampson’s site, but on a smaller scale than the current application.

But he said States members, the retail industry and the community as whole needed to decide what was more important – increasing the retail offering for islanders or the protection of Town as the island’s main retail centre.

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