Chamber in U-turn on Leale’s Yard support

TOWN businesses could be ‘sucked dry’ by the Leale’s Yard development if it went ahead, according to the Chamber of Commerce.

Carl Symes, chairman of the chamber’s land use and planning sub-group, has drawn up a letter which lays out serious concerns about the Channel Island Co-operative Society’s multi-million pound proposal for the Bridge site.

This is an about-turn for the business group, which pledged its support to the project in April. But since seeing the plans. members were concerned about the impact of the development.

Mr Symes believed many islanders did not realise what the plans could do to Guernsey.

‘Leale’s Yard will impact on everyone across the island and is a serious threat to retail,’ he said.

He claimed the development would be double the retail space currently in St Peter Port, as well as including a large amount of residential area.

‘It will be massive, even by UK standards,’ said Mr Symes.

He believed it would draw businesses away from Town and lead to an empty, unattractive High Streey

It would "Kill" the Town..

I reckon Town could benefit from a bit of downsizing in the long run. It is rather congested compared to the rest of the Island.

As I have said before Town for Leisure, Bridge for Business.