A senior States source said that an edict had been made from the ‘highest levels of government’ to ‘get it sorted’, although the minister who will have political responsibility for any changes said there were no firm plans in the pipeline.
Economic Development Minister Senator Lyndon Farnham said: ‘The position at the moment is we’re putting together the retail strategy. We’ve put out quite a lot of research to ascertain and ask questions about Sunday trading. We’re going to wait until we get the results of that first. It’s all a bit of a work in progress.’
However, sources confirm that a plan for deregulation is being developed – partly with the aim of offering larger retailers an opportunity to increase takings to offset the cost of a new retail tax on profits.
At the moment only shops with a floor space of less than 700 square metres can open on Sundays, with larger shops able to open for five Sundays a year.
The Economic Development Minister is also allowed to declare ‘special occasion’ Sundays where all shops can open, should they wish, including the six Sundays before Christmas. Sunday trading permits are granted by the Constable of each parish.
That, in effect, means only around 30 larger shops in Jersey are prevented from opening, while many more choose to remain closed.
The prospect of deregulation has been welcomed by town centre manager Daphne East.
She said: ‘I would like to see deregulation because we need to work to encourage visitors into the town centre more on a Sunday. We have stats to show 9,000 to 10,000 people visit town on a Sunday with little to do. We don’t need to force anybody to open, deregulation means we can let businesses do what they want to do.’
Ms East expected the change would see retailers, parish officials and the States working together to lay on more entertainment throughout town on a Sunday to create an ‘experience’ for visitors.
‘We need to work together to deliver a really vibrant Sunday. I’m up for deregulation. Let people shop ‘til they drop and eat and relax. Doing so on a Sunday means you’re not going to need to rush around with the kids.’
Lorie Rault, chief executive of the Jersey Retail Association, described Sunday trading as a ‘contentious issue’ in her evidence to a review of retail.
She said: ‘Some of the stores currently prohibited from opening have data suggesting that the ability to open on Sundays would increase their sales and contribution to the economy. Other stores in this category are opposed to opening on Sunday, citing either religious beliefs or a reluctance to erode family time and values. Representing all retailers across the Island, the JRA believes that each business should have the right to determine their own trading hours, based on their customers, staff and business needs.’
When asked his own view about Sunday trading Senator Farnham added: ‘I’m honestly open-minded and we’re collating information before we make any decisions. We’re due to get results of the survey in the next couple of weeks.’
That research is likely to be published in mid to late November with a retail strategy being released early in the new year. Any Sunday trading proposition would be published soon after that.
