Changing the face of Fountain Street
Friday 25th January 2013, 3:00PM GMT.
The interior of Gabriel’s Number 40 in Fountain Street is almost unrecognisable from its former role as a shoe shop. The floors are all being replaced, but some features such as this fireplace are being saved. (Picture by Juliet Pouteaux, 1298419)
FOUNTAIN Street will have changed forever by the end of this year, as developers finally get to work on the former Gabriel’s buildings.
The 10 terraced properties have stood empty since the Gabriel’s family business closed in 2007.
Now the properties have been sold and work is under way on most of the buildings. All will keep retail on the ground floor, with residential accommodation above.
Genesis Developments own 26 and 28. One of the company directors, Mac Gallienne, has been overseeing their renovation, as well as number 30.
‘I think we are six to eight weeks away from completion,’ he said.
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Fountain Street is the worst for people parking on it/pulling up for chips etc and blocking traffic and causing very annoying tailbacks.
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How on earth is that relevant to the development of the former Gabriels shops?
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“the countless accidents – the daily difficulties faced by carts using the street, the danger to pedestrians meeting carts or horses, are so notorious that people actually avoid using the street so as not to witness any accidents. The foul air and stink from piles of rubbish are yet another reason to get to work on the improvements.”
Gazette de Guernesey, 12th August 1826 about Fountain Street. Plus ca change!
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Wonder what the retail will be? Please not any more English chains.
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You’re right Matti- Guernsey ought , to a degree, to retain its sense of being a self-contained, provincial island. An excess of foreign firms does much to destroy a community’s parochialism.
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Parochialism is rubbish, get with the times!
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There’s nothing wrong with retaining a place’s provincial aura, especially if it is a little island like Guernsey that has been somewhat excluded from the situation occurring within the larger world environment for many years. If the island is to advance, the process ought to be incremental in order to provide time for the parish-pump islanders to begin adapting their lifestyle so that it is in accordance with that of a changing global environment.
Climate change mitigation and adaptation should be something that we shouldn’t allow Guernsey’s parochialism to hinder.
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In general I agree with Matti & Ed.
Having local run shops means a greater % of profits stay on the island, the owners are increasingly likely willing to be part of the community (example contribute to Christmas lights) and the shops are more likely to have individual “charm” that tourists like and make our town more unique instead of a copy and paste of a UK high street.
I actually prefer the shopping experience too when you can ask the owner about their products and services. They tend to have a higher level of enthusiasm in customer service too.
I’m not totally against chains when they are a good fit (they can give us better value when your on a budget) but I’d prefer to see more local proprietors in that part of town.
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Whilst the sentiment is fair, when it comes to Guernsey retail, beggars cant be choosers.
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If I was a business owner, I would be highly reluctant to set up in this location as, although some would argue that it is lacking in remunerative trade and therefore rather deprived, it lacks large aesthetic appeal and, due to the number rundown buildings, is prone to becoming a haunt for louts.
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Ed
The full printed story says that the run down buildings are all being upgraded to shops and flats.One is being changed into a 3 /4 storey house
One shop is already,or soon will be, tenanted by a Tattooist. I hope they all have better luck than those little shops next to the car park in the upper Bordage
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But that is what they are trying to get away from by developing these building, make the area more attractive, and hopefully they will be successful
I travel up and down the road at various times of day, and the worst part is the traffic outside that 24 hour burger bar, even at 5.30am, 4 dust carts in a line. The police should really sort it out not just a week, but regular patrols, in the area.
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Agreed, Ed. It could perhaps gain aesthetic appeal with attractive shopfronts plus bunting or some suchlike along the road, flower plantings etc… it could certainly be revamped to a certain degree to attract people up there I’m sure. I think it’s the volume of traffic puts people off; pedestrianisation could be the answer but can’t see them ever agreeing to that.
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Once the shops are up and running, Floral ST Peter Port will continue to put the watering system in place and bring the area alive with floral displays .
This is an ongoing project we are doing. this is to make sure ALL of the town looks good for everyone.
We also encourage shops to add to what we have put in place and to use the auto watering system
We need to show visitors how pleasing to the eye the town is and to encourage the cruise passengers to come back to spend even more time in our island .
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5.30 this morning Sat 26/01/13, 2 States works dust cart and another in a line facing down the road parked outside the burger bar without lights etc.
They take the road up from the premises known as Shine up to Hansa Foods, even at that time of day traffic is held up.
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Guern
Town cleaning in progress.Nice you noticed there was no litter around the take aways.All cleaned up ready for another day.
No there was no traffic hold ups.we park here daily doing the jobs people would not get out of bed for.
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This needs to be reported to the police or to the Constables who will follow the complaint up.
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Great to read some features are being saved as these will enhance the finished properties.
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A couple of lap dancing clubs with the obligatory neon lights will soon have the area regenerated.
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‘Like’
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