Sunday shopping rules to be relaxed, minister says

Deputy Kirsten Morel said at a Chamber of Commerce speech on Wednesday he would be removing the law which prevents shops on the island to open on Sundays

More shops in Jersey could open on Sundays, after a government minister said he planned to remove a law requiring permits and fees to do so.

Deputy Kirsten Morel, sustainable economic development minister, said the government would "shortly be rescinding the Shops Regulation of Opening and Deliveries Law".

He said it meant all retailers would be able to trade on Sundays without any of the paperwork or permit fees.

"The most important thing government can do is to provide the right environment to enable businesses to invest in themselves and that's why my team has been addressing the barriers to business in our policies and legislation," Morel said.

Speaking at Wednesday's Chamber of Commerce meeting, Morel said the proposed change would "allow all retailers to trade on Sundays if they chose to do so without any paperwork or permit fees".

Murray Norton, chief executive of Jersey Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the proposed changes

Murray Norton, chief executive of Jersey Chamber of Commerce, said the relaxed rules were "something we should welcome".

"Not all stores will want to open on Sunday and that's entirely their choice," he said.

Mr Norton said the chamber was working on a code of conduct for retailers to make sure noise and Sunday deliveries were kept to acceptable levels.

He said: "Anything that gets more people onto our high street, creates a buzz, makes it more vibrant, that's good for not only retailers, that's good for the bars and the restaurants and all the ancillary trades that there are around as well."