The comment from Eliot Lincoln follows exclusive reporting in this newspaper revealing that rules which restrict larger stores from opening on Sundays could be scrapped early in the new year.
Mr Lincoln said: ‘I think from Chamber’s perspective we’re positive about anything that can be done to support local retailers.
‘It’s actually fewer than 30 retailers who can’t currently open because of the law, while everyone else can. For Chamber it’s about businesses having the choice of whether or not to open. It’s not going to suit everyone. Some will want to open; some won’t. But we don’t need a law that restricts the choice.’
He said the relationship between industry and government was improving all the time, and that politicians and senior civil servants were taking concerns aired by retailers seriously.
‘We’ve got a really good dialogue going with the Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture Department at the moment.
‘We’re working on retail strategy and there’s a good dialogue with government and with the Jersey Retail Association. It seems to be going in the right direction. Not all assembly decisions have gone our way [in the past] but there is an acknowledgement now that there’s an issue for retail. There are a number of things we need to do to support our retailers or we’re going to see a wasteland of all our retail areas.’
Mr Lincoln cited the new retail tax, which is levied on the profits of the largest retailers, as an ongoing problem for the sector, along with the issue of recruitment.
‘The really important thing is to remember that Sunday trading laws are just one of a number of things that need addressing. We need to look at how we convince people that retail is a good choice for career progression, we need better understanding of consumer behaviour, and we need to find ways to attract people into town. Sunday trading means we take away a legal restriction and let commercial acumen win out.’
The town centre manager, Daphne East, has told the JEP of her wish for more entertainment to be laid on in St Helier on Sundays if and when opening restrictions are abolished. She believes retailers need to work with both parish and government officials to come up with plans to make a visit to town more of an ‘experience’.
The Economic Development Minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham, is expected to publish the retail strategy early in the new year, with a proposition to deregulate Sunday trading due to follow shortly afterwards.
Senator Farnham described himself as ‘open-minded’ when asked whether he supported deregulation.
