Sarah
I'm from Guernsey and I recently came over to Jersey for the day fro a bit of shopping and was very disappointed, I was bored within the hour and i think that this would be a great asset to your island.
Jamie
i was born in jersey and in the last 6 years the island has changed from this tourist filled attraction to a dump and if the cinema becomes that im just going to packup my homegrown buisness and leave the island for good.
***
I think this is a great idea !!!!!
Jim Bob
Oh dear. A major UK retailer would likely be great for Jersey in the short term but what about the medium to long term? Prices are not going to be lower for very long, probably about as long as it takes to destroy the local competition.
Are prices lower in the UK? well maybe they are but then the land is less expensive, the staff are less expensive and goods don't have to be shipped to stores. The UK minimum wage which is what most shop floor staff earn is 拢5.35 for people over the age of 22, does anybody in Jersey fancy working for this so that we all might enjoy lower prices? Didn't think so. In contrast Jersey supermarkets offer about 拢6.40 per hour and upwards.
We also need to think about exactly how many businesses will be affected by a Tesco, it'll go way past being just the Co-Op and Checkers. Tesco will not source goods from Channel Island agents for companies they deal with directly in the UK.
As a result an agent in Jersey will sell less goods, their costs will increase and these will be passed on to local retailers making them less competitive and hastening thier decline. If Tesco come to Jersey they will be operating a monopoly within 18 months and it'll be our own fault.
Maybe it's time to stop thinking about shopping and Tesco and think about our future? Global warming is coming and people are getting wise to carbon footprinting, maybe Jersey's time as a tourist destination will come again as the summers bring good weather on the UK's doorstep.
What could we do to make the island more attractive to visitors which would then bring investment, boost the economy and provide jobs?
I'm bored of hearing about Tesco, if I was Jim Bergerac instead of Jim Bob I'd knock some heads together.
G-MAN
PERHAPS MARCO BUT IF YOU OWN A HOUSE ITS GOING UP!!!!
UP!!! UP.
Tom Hunter
Looking through the thread of these postings, one thing seems to be clear: Jersey people no longer feel in control of their own or the islands destiny. So whatever the plans are for this site, lets make sure that constructive arguments are made to the states regarding what is placed there. Remember, despite what anyone tells us, it is our island and we vote in our leaders. It isn't North Korea where we have no idea of what the rest of the world is doing and our glorious leader makes all our decisions for us!!!
Or would somebody like to argue that it is like that?
Marco
Jersey is sooooooooooooo going down the hill !!Slowly...but surely folks
Troy
Steve; It's not hiding what'll be in the location of the wine bar, it IS what's there. The scheme goes from the northern edge of the cinema building at Nelson Street all the way to the shop trading presently as a dive shop practical as far south as Belmont Road (at which point the height is at least twice that of it's Dive Shop neighbour)
Steve
Looks good but seems to be hiding the majority of what will be further down the street in the location of the original wine bar area
Troy
To those people saying the cinema needs or should stay on this site; Have you thought about why the Odeon closed? Ever thought that it couldn't compete with Cineworld at the Waterfront? Competition is fine where the market is big enough, but Jersey is a very small market. How many other towns in the UK with a catchment population of less than 100,000 people would have even one 10screen cinema let alone a second multi-screen venue? The Odeon left 鈥榗ause it couldn鈥檛 make money, the current operator can鈥檛 make a commercial success of it either so it鈥檚 time to accept that if you wanted competition in the cinema market you鈥檝e been let down by the WEB and SoJ Planning Dept. allowing a multiplex to open when it would obviously kill the incumbent operator. They should鈥檝e allowed a second operator of maybe 4screens and actually given competition a chance. What will be interesting in a couple of years will be the recently announced plan to demolish the Waterfront cinema because the land value is far greater for other uses, where will the cinema be then? Obviously Cineworld, with it鈥檚 long lease, will insist the States relocate them, but where? and at what cost? I鈥檒l not be surprised if the operator, now without the problem of competition agrees to open a smaller, more profitable, cinema with far fewer screens.
J
Many thanks for the rebuttal Phil, still, I鈥檓 not convinced that Bath Street would be considered the centre of St Helier, or that we do need more family places in wherever the town centre is anyway. I鈥檓 not sure that St Helier as the capital of Jersey could be too industrialised, as being a capital surely entails being the centre of industry. If we are looking for another park, why would we want it to be in an area like Bath Street? The shear amount of traffic passing daily would not make for a perfect environment, noise pollution alone would remove the charm from the site and the more physical forms of pollution from traffic would ruin the experience of visiting a park anyway.
The site is fine as it is. The Forum cinema is an ugly building, but part of island heritage nonetheless. If we actually needed yet another supermarket in St Helier, I鈥檇 suggest that it would be better located as one of the new developments on the Waterfront鈥檚 reclaimed site. As it is WEB is clutching at straws to get people other than late night under-age drinkers to go to the area! That way it would not be disrupting the already hideous town centre traffic.
I hope that the above passage is grammatically, syntactically and spellingly correct enough for Le Crapaud de la Pouquelaye鈥檚 complex standards
Ipomea
Is this going to be a franchise...or the real McCoy? We could do with a Waitrose...good quality/good value, but a Tesco would do...
I had heard there might be a possibility that John Lewis might be coming....now that would wake the island up!
Phil
Regardless of the proximity of Howard Davis Park, J, we should endeavour to create some more... family places in St. Helier, which are in the centre. I think that some sort of park would be nice, and would stop St. Helier becoming too industrialised, as it is already. The cinema needs to stay there, although it does need some sort of revamp in order to efficiently and properly compete with Cineworld
Le Crapaud de la Pouquelaye
Are there no literate correspondents to this thread? Nearly every message is replete with grammatical, syntactical or simple spelling errors. That apart, what have Jersey beans got to fear from UK or even foreign competition? Or are "vested interests" even stronger than we all thought?
J
Such a bad idea! Leave it as a cinema! Cine World needs competition so that they won't hike their prices.
There is a Co-op 2 minutes away from this site as it is, and with the amount of traffic that this scale of supermarket would bring in, the already constantly grid locked town centre would not be able to lose another traffic vein.
This site will never be a park, you can give tha idea up and stop being lazy, just walk to the Howard Davis Park.
And Chimpface, I think you should be put to sleep.
sqn leader faggot
In my expert opinion,Jersey has been devoid of any prestige clothing outlet since de gruchys went down the swanny a few years ago.
MOOLOO LE MOIGNAN
KEEP JERSEY BACKWARD
WE LOVE IT "A".
Troy
nicola, What is it about A de Gruchy and/or Voisin's you don't like? Not to mention the other clothes retailers etc. in St Helier.
Anne Huelin
We have quite enough selection in our present range of stores. Reduce prices? you must be joking!!
Troy
Jerry; I like the way you think TESCO or similar is going to bring 'fairer' prices through economy of scale and buying power. Doesn't that just mean they're being harder on their suppliers?
If TESCO does operate from this store I wonder how long the Central Market will survive, and once it's no longer viable commercially who's going to be asked to subsidize it? The tax payer, as I can鈥檛 imagine the 鈥榩eople鈥 of Jersey allowing the States to let it operate on the level playing field that has been talked about. If it were it would be closed months after TESCO opens not even years.
I would imagine that TESCO will impact on the dairy industry too. They鈥檒l either dictate a lower buying price for Jersey milk or simply force the States to allow them to import their own brand milk from the UK. This will kill the dairy industry, but nobody will complain because we all want the playing field level and the economies of scale, don鈥檛 we?
The people and States of Jersey need to decide whether they want to retain any character or just become another 鈥榓ny town UK鈥, of course retaining character means being a little different at times, standing up for those differences and accepting that there may be a cost involved.
Other people have brought up ideas of this development being used to fund the mythical Town Park or using the space for skate parks etc. Both this and the Ann Street proposals are private developments, both have at their core profit as the reason to develop the sites. Ask by all means, but don鈥檛 put a gun to the head of private business to provide public amenities.
If the people truly want a Town Park tell the States to build one. Unfortunately parks are expensive; you get what you pay for. I could be wrong but which other parks in Jersey were States built, aren鈥檛 most parks gifts to the Public like Howard Davies Park?
If Public funding wasn鈥檛 forthcoming in years gone by when Jersey was awash with spare cash I don鈥檛 see it suddenly happening today with tighter budgets a States that lacks any desire for bold progress.
nicola
How about a nice department store where yoy can buy some decent clothing instead of having to fly back to the mainland every few months to buy clothing, footwear etc as a lot of people do on this island.
JERESEE BOY "AAAAAAAA"
I WANT MA ISLAND BACK THE WAY IT WAS "A"
Jerry
We need FEWER supermarkets in Jersey...fewer CI Traders and more UK or European companies that will bring fairer prices through economy of scale, buying power and a level playing field with UK prices. It's not naive to believe that we can pay the same prices as the UK mainland, it's just certain politicians and businesses have dictated to us for too long that we have started to believe them.
If Tesco were to bring goods over here (as they already ship here for the fulfillment industry) but charge us the same prices as everywhere else, we would be very happy. Even if the full VAT was included to cover freight and carriage, we would be shocked at how much cheaper than CI Traders they would be. But best of all, we would have CHOICE again.
BILL
WOT A EYE SORE IT WILL BE. please dont let it happen????
Local
Article 25 of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 provides that the owner of land can enter into a 'planning obligation' with the Planning and Environment Committee. This Article would provide a simple answer: Planning should grant consent for the proposed use of this area of town (which in my view looks a very attractive proposition), on the condition that the owner/developer fund, in whole or in part, the Town Park project. Two much needed developments for the price of one!
Jen
Thanks Bob for making such an interesting point. It had never occured to me that if a local company just got the franchise of a store then they would control the prices. Lets make sure that it is a UK supermarket for real that comes over. Not just the name!
Stan
If CI Traders are putting up a mega store at the old Ann Street brewery site, there cannot space for 2 such stores in town, so we'll never get to see how much a UK supermarket group could save the ordinary people in the street. Yet again, CI Traders will dictate what we buy and how much we pay for it! The Bath Street redevelopment is a great idea, but it looks to be doomed before it even starts...what a shame, tragedy and disgrace.
Bob
It seems from the proposal to put a major store on the Ann Street brewery site, that CI Traders are concerned about a UK supermarket chain coming in to Jersey. If Tesco comes in, then they will bring Tesco marketing, prices (considerably lower than Jersey's current levels) and ethos of customer service. If CI Traders opens a major store and acts as the franchise holder for a major UK chain (not Morrisons of course, Tom Scott derides their Northern parochial approach), then they will put their mark-up on everything and the people of Jersey will be no better off than before, except for another venue to get ripped off at. If CI Traders have their plan approved, the Bath Street shopping complex will never be passed as it will be seen as pointless to have 2 major shopping sites so close to each other.
PEOPLE OF JERSEY...WATCH THIS ONE CLOSELY!!!
The Bath Street plan is bold, privately funded and commercially in tune with the future. The Ann Street refurbishment will mean we get a poor compromise and fleeced all over again.
Phil
Get some competition for Condor, then the new shops might be able to sell things near the UK prices!!!
didier
I fear for the safety of young girls in places like this. There better be cameras
Emma
Those type of venues do not accomedate those type of bands like muse and so on. Fort regent used to it like have Ian Brown over but I dont think they do it anymore.
Isabean nothasbeen
They keep telling us that Tesco's is coming! It must have been like this during the occupation, when islanders heard rumours that the British were coming but still we are cruelly teased by talk of their arrival. A major UK supermarket outlet would (or at least should) create more of a level playing field in the high street. Whenever you go to the UK, you realise that we have been fleeced for too long and its time to redress the cruel imbalance. Particularly with the draconian GST coming in soon. Rant over!
Chimpface
I think Jersey needs more pubs and cheaper booze - not a supermarket. I think this is another example of bureaucracy gone mad - we are giving in to the gay rights protestors of the world and I believe it must be stopped.
Nick Jarvis
Its about time Jersey had a fantastic shopping centre like this. Bring it in, its what Jersey needs desperately
dazsnow
Although I think it's probably a good idea, one must conside the question: hasn't every construction / development project in Jersey always been a total balls-up? (mont orgeil and elizabeth castle excepted, of course...)
Crowie
With the Odeon listed, and the States' attention focused on the Waterfront, this private sector scheme is the best chance for regeneration of northern St Helier that we are likely to see for a decade. Let's hope the Planning and Economic Development Ministers give this scheme the go-ahead, as it will make the Town Park more likely, increase consumer choice, and bring down the price of food.
A True Jersey Bean
I personaly think that it is a rather bad idea as when ever Jersey gets somthing redone or made it look apsolutly awful and out of place with the rest of the enviroment around it. for example the Waterfront looks terible and the Cine world cinema. The people we hire to design the bulidings dont know how to make the buildings blend in with its enviroment but make it stick out like a sour thumb! And why another super market the island is crawling with them!
rita
ok!! whilst the proposed development is not being done by the states it will be veetoed by them if they dont like what the developer wants do do who will say NO not the person on the street but the states, and as for the comment about why we want more shops supermarkets why not? why can't we have more choice? and competative prices? that is a large area and a lot can be done with it which would benefit everyone.
Brands
The plans look outstanding!
I remember as a child the montone and monolithic hunk that was the Odeon cinema.
This will constitute yet another element in modernity to our home town.
Long live progress!
Shonky
Emma, Live Lounge which is actually on St. James St., one of the streets included in this redevelopment is an alternative club that plays live music every weekend.
Emma
Can I just say you get what you pay for in asda and tesco, I think most of you must live at the supermarkets, the way you want another one so much. Is 5 plus all the spars you can shake a stick at not enough for 5 by 9 mile area of land
Joe
Emma - isn't that what the Live Lounge is for? And on a less regular basis the Havana Club when Positiv put gigs on?
Emma
Lets be honest that side of town could do with a new appeal, however is there not a supermarket 1 minute down the road, I dont see the need for another and the same thing goes for a designer outlet. I think they should use this opportunity to give us something different and not just another bowling alley we have one, people are just too lazy to travel there. If you have not notice the nightlife in Jersey is... well lets just say it does not accomedate everyones needs. I think they should build an altertative indie club, bar and venue for real bands. I have been in Manchester for four years now and it is the reason I will not come back to Jersey, nothing ever changes. Have they not realisied how packed "Jersey Life" is and why because of the music. I think if they got professionals bands over to gig as a part of their tour it would bring in loads of money. And if they would just build a club which played a bit of passionate music like oasis, the stone roses, the smiths, the jam, the strokes and so on, people would love it. They do in Manchester! If I had the money that is what I would do for sure. Indie is becoming so commercial with new bands like razorlight, why dont they take advantage and provide something a bit different.
Si
The comments I've read so far seem to hint that people think this is being done by the States of Jersey - it's not.
A commercial company owns the site, a commercial company wants to put the money into developing it - it has NOTHING to do with the States.
Thats why saying things like 'do it for people of Jersey' are a waste of time. The company will do whatever will have the best return for their shareholders. - simple fact.
.......
i think its jst a stupid idea to put up MOR shops nd ANUVA supermarket, weve GOT that already. Comon people who decide these things, get of your behinds and go ask the PEOPLE of jersey, but a WIDE variety of ages, dnt care about foreigners , give your already exsisting population something INTERESTING to make living here more worthwile. Ask the children, teenagers, adults, ask schools and DIFFERENT organisations, nurseries. prove that youve got this job for a reson and actually care about what jersey people think. Maybe an ice rink (for ice hocky games, professional ice skating dancing), Rock climbing/high ropes courses, dance studios, e.t.c (things we dont already have, that would probably give in profit). And if you don't think you can afford it get schools organisations and run fund raising events to gain more money.
rita
well seems as though on the whole my suggestions seem to be the same as most people! but i do agree there could be somthing for everybody to enjoy such as a bowling alley or something for the kids meaning all ages, skating etc, i am pretty sure there is more than enough space to provide most things for everybody and as its quite central would go down very well, ther is always going to be the cynics around who dont agree with moving forward, and those that dont agree with a supermarket being close to each other obviousley dont agree with freedom of choice! for to long we have been dictated to about where we shop(le riche, or the co-op) and even the franchises we have regarding clothes are not taking the v.a.t off well known fact! jersey to move and quick as with everything they do takes forever!!! the tourism was completely wrecked as we all know judging by most of the hotels and guesthouses becoming 'flats' etc wake up states and get your fingers out!!!
The Girl from Cornwall
My god, change in Jersey??? Won't it have to be put past the States, the Connetable and all the other do-gooders before this is decided?
Lets stop talking about the town park and do something about it!!
Alan
Oh Lord ...you are not exactly setting your sights high are you, demand a Waitrose and nothing less !
Martin du Feu
Perhaps they could bring back the old Cash and Carry!
Jen
I agree Rita, I think an Asda or a Tesco would be fab. You could have the food stuff in the supermarket in the design and then their huge clothing and homeware ranges could be in the old Odeon. Perhaps with a bar and a cafe in the ground floor.
Yvette
I am not sure if there are enough shoppers to support another supermarket. Yes, it may force prices down, but could this result in other supermarkets going out of business, thus resulting on the new spermarket raising their prices? We would then be back to square one. I also worry about the local suppliers to the present supermarkets. They would surely be affected too. I think a facility for young people too would be a good idea - skating rink, bowling, meeting place etc.
rita
YESSSSS!!! about time, my only reservation would be who would be leasing these units if the food store was another le riches definiatly not! we need an english food store such as asda or tesco which would include there non food items, and a bit of healthy competition for the 'other supermarkets in the island would give them something to think about as did morrisons in the short time it was here far to much monopoly in jersey and not enaugh choice why do we have to be dictated to about what shops we can have? i think we need to move forward a little faster with the times we can not live in a dictated state forever! that has been proved with the new mobile company,
people coming to 'tax free jersey' dont have a lot to gain here cigarettes are almost the same price as here, as is drink . but not only that we locals would like a bit more choice, bring it on....
Pheebs
I think there are more worthwhile and useful things that they could build on that land than more shops, especially as they are building more at the other end of town anyway.
What about amusement arcades and bowling alleys, things that would attract the young teenagers of this island who currently seem to have nothing to do and just hang around street corners. Often (though not always granted) causing trouble. Not to mention being very intimidating.
Troy
I wonder how Bath Street and James Street will cope with an extra couple of thousand car journeys across them each day.
I also think it's a shame that something more adventurous hasn't been designed, but the blame for this must sit with the SoJ Planning Dept. and the planning 'system' rather than the individual developer and isn't a comment unique to this scheme.
L
I think this is a great idea.We need more competition especially with fashion clothes.
P Lee
This part of town is very run down so this development will improve the environment. Not sure that we need more shops - what about the ones they are building on the site by the harbour - I think this will cause many shops to go out of business.
Glenn Anthony
As a former resident of Jersey now living in New Zealand I welcome the redevelopment. Now is a good time to consider entertainment uses such as Bowling Arena etc aswell as cafes and supermarkets. Jersey is somewhat lacking an entertainment hub to cater for the younger population and tourists. If developed right it could be an asset to the Islands economy
Ken Turner
I think this a great step forward
Nick
Competition is always a good thing for the consumer. That area of own is really under used and looks tatty so I think regenerating it is fantastic.
I do worry though that there are only a finite number of people in Jersey to go shopping, so what with all the new shops planned at the new Liberty Wharf are there enough people in Jersey to frequent all these new shops?
Sandra Hayes
I think it's a brilliant idea. We definitely need more choice in the Island.
V
I think it would be a great idea as it would make stores and prices in Jersey more competitive. Jersey has had a monopoly of industries for years and it's time to move on for the benefit of consumers, for example the arrival of Cable and Wireless to compete with Jersey Telecom. This should be expanded to other markets, including food stores!
Denise
Whats the point of putting a supermarket next door (practically) to an existing supermarket? Like the idea of a department store though. Make it Debenhams please!
L.S
i like the idea, of it but im not too sure about the supermarket, even though i would like to see a UK supermarket here, but mayb not der cause we have Grand Marche round the corner! but aprt tht it wud b gr8
Jayne
I think that looks so much nicer than it does at the moment. Competition is great for supermarkets. But I am worried that a huge fashion store will threaten some smaller shops in town.
Millie
I'd love to see a large UK supermarket come to the island. They offer much better prices than local supermarkets do.
