The busy street is to become one-way after States Members backed proposals to make recent temporary traffic safety measures permanent earlier this week.
The road from the junction with Havre des Pas to Route du Fort roundabout, opposite the eastern entrance to the Tunnel, has recently had roadworks which have required traffic to be routed in one direction only – northwards towards the roundabout.
Eddie Moutray-Read, who runs JFS Sport, a fishing tackle store, on Clos des Pas just off of Green Street, said he fears that his business will be negatively impacted.
‘In the long-term I will be badly affected as we are all losing people driving past us from town who might spot us and pull in,’ he said.
‘With the new system in place, we will lose a lot of new customers.
‘It is easier driving in and out with the new one-way system, so I can understand the argument for it, but in the long term, here and the shop next door [La Collette General Store] won’t survive this.’
Another retailer, who wished to remain anonymous, said that they were also concerned for their livelihood.
‘It has been so quiet since March, the one-way system has meant we have lost a lot of customers. We were really shocked to hear that it [the proposal] was passed so quickly and without anyone talking to us,’ they said.
‘I honestly think we will go out of business.’
Deputy Russell Labey, who brought the proposition to the Assembly, said that the temporary system had created a solution to the traffic problems in the area.
But Mr Moutray-Read said that he expects the decision will worsen traffic in neighbouring areas such as Roseville Street and Havre de Pas.
‘The traffic on Roseville Street is bad enough, so I honestly cannot imagine what it’s going to be like now this new system is in place,’ he said.
Deputy Labey had previously said that he planned to speak with the businesses in the area. However, Mr Moutray-Read said he had not been contacted by him.
Prior to the proposal being passed, Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis had warned that there may be unintended consequences from making the road permanently one-way.
He added that issues such as speeding increasing because cars would not be forced to slow for oncoming traffic, buses needing to be rerouted and the impact on nearby Roseville Street had not been fully considered.
‘I was so surprised at how quickly it went through, especially after the Minister Kevin Lewis had spoken out so strongly against the new system,’ said Mr Moutray-Read.
The proposition was adopted by 28 votes to 19 on Tuesday 4 June.
