THE owners of a farm shop in St Brelade have been given permission to extend their opening hours following an outpouring of public support.
Jon and Jenny Hackett, who own Brooklands Farm, applied for the extension in July to ‘provide full-time employment for two people, as well as cater for customers’ requests for more opening hours’.
The farm shop on Route des Gênets is a familiar sight to many, and is known for its pigs, poultry and Genuine Jersey products made in-house.
The shop previously closed on Mondays and shut at 2pm on other weekdays and 4pm on Saturdays.
With the approved planning application, however, it can now stay open until 5pm between Monday and Saturday, while the Sunday opening hours of 10am to 2pm will remain the same.
Mr Hackett, who is currently recovering from a stroke, is ‘very happy’ that the planning application has been approved, according to his daughter, Kate.
The application received over 60 supportive public comments, many of which lauded the convenience of having the shop open later for those who work office hours.
One Islander said: ‘It is businesses like this that make the Island special and they should be encouraged.
‘Current opening hours are restrictive and allowing them to open within most normal business parameters after having proved they have a viable business would be sensible.’
Another added that they ‘support this change in opening hours, as this farm shop provides Genuine Jersey produce and this will allow us to have the option to visit the shop at more convenient times, due to work commitments’.
