Jersey vape shop prompts concern from residents

Vape shop owner Aaron Want said he was happy to listen to villagers' concerns

A vape shop owner's plans to open an adjoining milkshake and sweet store have prompted concern among residents.

Aaron Want runs his vape business from a former shoe shop in St Peter's village and is hoping to set up a sweet and milkshake shop next door.

Residents are worried about children using a sweet shop so close to where vaping products are sold.

However, Mr Want said it would be a separate business with its own entrance.

Resident Marianne Pallot said she thinks it would be difficult to keep children away.

"You are going to have lots of young children in there next to something they should not be involved in," she said.

Another resident, Pat Pike, said: "I know they are saying they're going to be very careful with age limits and everything but unfortunately young people these days have very good ways of getting the vapes or cigarettes or whatever they want."

Mr Want said the vape shop and the milkshake shop would have separate entrances

Mr Want - who lives in the village - said he was happy to talk to anyone to try to make things work.

"If they come and tell me their concerns I'm sure I can work with them and it will be fine, for all parties," he said.

He added that the vape shop was only designed to be a pop-up shop while he was waiting for permission to develop the whole building for other use.

Richard Vibert, the Constable of St Peter, confirmed some parishioners had approached him about the shop and he said he had spoken to the owner.

"I can understand things from his perspective as well," he said.

"It's a small shop, difficult to let and until they undertake the development, he's looking for some income from the premises.

"I was pleased to hear it wasn't necessarily the long-term future of the shop."