Town trader fears Leale’s Yard build will be damaging

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.’

(from thisisguernsey)

What do you think?

IMO Mr Creasey appears not to welcome competition - he has had the run of town for a long time

Mr Creasey is undoubtedly right. Don't need to be a genius to work that one out.

The need is to find the right balance. Say leisure and tourist trades in Town and domestic and business trades in St Sampson.

Rents have killed the town - even Shoestring is closing their town shop because the rent is 4 times higher than on the Bridge for about the same area of shop!!!! so that is a key problem that has to be addressed......or so Mr Perchard was quoted as saying in the GEP last night - and he is in the know.......

I suppoose Mr Creasey would be concerned if the trade moved to the Bridge. To be fair the Bridge is not killing the town. There is no Leales development at the moment but town is dying, as stated above it is probably the high rents not competition that is doing the damage. Hopefully competition in the way of new premises on the bridge will bring down rents in town so the town may even pick up.

i must say that Creasey is one of the shops who support the floral in town,if you do pop into the shop tell them how nice it look s

This project has been on the cards for years and some traders on the bridge look foward to it starting, some dread it,

St Peter Port has been dying for years mainly because of the rent costs, I see leale's yard as a natural trend like is happening all over the world, I dont know if it will be good or bad for the Town Traders but it will be liked by the public when its done.

What will be will be. Time will tell with this..............






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The Bridge and Belgrave Bay circa 2020

http://www.neatorama.com/upcoming/post/The-new-fountains-at-the-Burj-Dubai