During this week’s States sitting, Members are due to debate a proposition by St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft to make the pedestrianisation of the St Helier road permanent. Broad Street has been closed to traffic since last May to give pedestrians more space during the pandemic.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Retail and Supply Group chairman, Paul Murphy, said it was ‘clear’ opinion was divided
on closing Broad Street to traffic.
Just over 81% of about 60 businesses which were surveyed by Mr Murphy’s committee said they felt that before any decision was voted through, the consequences should be ‘properly assessed with an impact study’.
Half of businesses surveyed thought maintaining the closure for 2021 would be a negative, or very negative step, while 20% were neutral and 30% thought it would be a positive or very positive move.
Over 60% of businesses which responded felt pedestrianisation would decrease footfall and damage business, with 40% responding that more pedestrianised areas would make the town centre more attractive and entice more people to shop there.
Asked whether businesses would be adversely or negatively affected by the closure of the road, almost 12% thought it would benefit their business, 35% thought it would damage their operation and just over 53% were uncertain as to the effect of the move.
Mr Murphy said: ‘It is clear that opinion is divided on whether closing Broad Street to traffic is a good thing or not, both within Chamber and beyond, but it was important that we were fully sighted of our members’ thoughts and clearly they expect States Members to have researched data and implications presented to them before being able to vote with any degree of certainty.’
