Businesses concerned over works as footfall drops

Shops owners say the signs saying the arcade is open are too small

Businesses in St Peter Port's Commercial Arcade have seen footfall decrease by about 90%, staff and sector leaders say.

The Guernsey Retail Group figures show the period of 8-14 April was down on the previous week and the same time last year.

Some business owners said they believed work on the electricity network in the High Street and the arcade was putting people off visiting St Peter Port and have questioned its timing.

Guernsey Electricity said the work, which it confirmed would disrupt supplies in the area, could not be carried out in the winter due to higher electricity demand then.

Dix-Neuf said it would normally see all its outside tables full at this time of year

The Guernsey Retail Group publishes weekly footfall counts for St Peter Port.

Last week saw more than 3,000 people coming to the arcade, compared with nearly 35,000 the week before, and more than 37,000 in the same week in 2023.

Carl Jein, general manager of restaurant Dix-Neuf, said he was worried about the fall in customers from passing trade.

He said: "If this continues, then it is going to ruin the start of my summer season.

"We've had the largest cruise ship of the year come to town and usually that would bring with it lots of customers who sit outside for a drink, and now we have two people sitting there.

"I would have liked some discussion about it and the time of year it would be taking place.

"There was no work going on in January and February, which is renowned for being quieter months."

Ellie Schreibkem, of Maison Demain, sales will stay low if customers numbers do not increase

Shopworker Anna de Lisle said the work needed doing and she was grateful it was happening, but there were not enough signs showing visitors how to get to the arcade.

Ellie Schreibke, who is taking over the Maison Demain shop, said: "If the number of customers continues to stay this low, it will be so hard to pick up sales."

Guernsey Electricity said: "The work is being undertaken in spring and early summer as higher electricity demand over the colder winter months means it would be exceedingly difficult to carry out these works without negatively impacting customer supplies in the area.

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the vital works being undertaken."

It said the work was "essential to improving resilience and increase the overall capacity of the low voltage network to retailers, other businesses and residents of St Peter Port".

The first phase of the work is expected to take about six to eight weeks to complete, and the High Street and Commercial Arcade project finshed by 19 July.