The Legislation Committee are proposing that all shops should be able to open on Sundays, for a four-month trial from 1 August to 19 December, providing they obtain a permit from their parish Constable.
The proposed trial ‘free for all’, yet to be debated by the States, was first revealed in an enabling law lodged by the committee in April.
However, Mr Crowcroft fears that unless the regulations are amended, the Constables will be powerless to prevent the Island’s superstores opening.
‘I think it’s doubtful whether any Constable could legally refuse a permit which would lead to the large supermarkets and stores opening this year,’ he said.
He said that he would raise the matter when the Committee of Constables meet on Monday.
Legislation’s proposition was lodged by the committee this week for debate by the States.
Mr Crowcroft said both projets must be debated together.
Committee president the Constable of St Clement, Derek Gray, said: ‘The trial will show what sort of shops want to open, then we can decide if that is going to cause too much of a problem and maybe restrict opening by size.’ At present Sunday trading is prescribed by size of shops and items.
Legislation are proposing suspending both during the trial but retailers will still have to seek parish approval.
They propose charging £15 for a Sunday trading licence.
‘Consideration has been given to suspending the whole Law but the Legislation Committee considers it is important that the Constables maintain control over which shops are permitted to open as, should the opening cause a nuisance, it would be possible for the Constable to revoke a permit,’ Legislation said in the report.
Legislation rejected the idea of total deregulation without parish approval, even though it would have been the ideal way to test opinion and experience of a retail Islandwide free for all.
The committee decided to err on the side of caution because of the disruption and nuisance effect on the wider community and the potential loss of business for small shops and retailers who choose to respect the traditional day of rest.
The lodging of the trial came as a surprise to Legislation member, Mr Crowcroft.
He said his ratepayers would have to pick up the bill for street cleaning if it was business as usual in the town on Sundays.
He could not attend the meeting at which the decision to lodge was made as he was on a family holiday.
He said the Constables had rejected the idea of a trial following discussions with retailers and the Chamber of Commerce and from fears that it could cause more problems than it would solve.
He said the Constables also felt a £15 licence was far too low to cover administration costs or the possible pressures placed on parish workers by clean up operations.
They would prefer to charge by square footage.
However, he added, as long as both the proposals were debated together, and the trial proposals were amended, then he believed the States could have a useful debate on Sunday trading.
