They say unless the old route is restored with immediate effect the economic well-being of the area will be devastated.And they accuse Public Services of failing to carry out adequate consultation with traders and residents before implementing the changes last week.In a letter to Public Services and the Constable of St Helier, Simon Crowcroft, they wrote: ‘The vibrancy of this area is reliant on the ‘churn’ of motorists and pedestrians coming and going.
Remove this and we believe that businesses will no longer find it viable to operate in this area.
What we don’t understand is the ultimate objective of this reversal of traffic flow.
Is there a long-term agenda to pedestrianise this street? We have no idea, which is very disappointing.’From last Monday the section of Halkett Place, between Burrard Street and Beresford Street, was reversed in an attempt to reduce traffic and improve pedestrian safety in the town centre.
New pedestrian crossings have also been created in Burrard Street and Beresford Street.The street is identified for pedestrianisation in the Island Plan but Environment and Public Services vice-president Deputy Jackie Hilton said that suggestion had yet to be considered.
Before it was, she added, businesses and residents would be consulted.She said the department publicised the Halkett Street changes, and wrote to 170 residents and businesses, in the summer receiving only four complaints.Halkett Street trader David Warr, of Coopers and Co, questioned these methods.’Some people said they did not receive a letter and the wrong people may have been asked for their views.’He said that the letters, which outlined the proposals and asked for people’s thoughts, were not personally addressed.
‘They were just shoved through doors.’Mr Warr and his co-signatories: Giuseppe Francescon of Gio’s, Valentino Rossi of La Capanina, George McCall of Fridays, John Dingle at Fortuna and market traders Bill Davies, Giovanni Fasseta, N Aaron and John Nagle, are annoyed at the lack of proper consultation.
