During a hearing of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel, Deputy Montfort Tadier said that Jersey’s streets have lost their liveliness over the past decade and are lagging behind cultured continental towns.
The Deputy, who is an assistant minister in the Economic Development Department with responsibility for retail, has been looking into relaxing Jersey’s street entertainment laws to allow more people to perform. The regulation of street entertainment is currently delegated to the Jersey Arts Centre by the Bailiff. The policies were last updated in 2013.
Deputy Tadier has said previously that he would like to update several of the existing rules, such as a ban on the use of amplifiers, charging an annual £30 busking fee and requiring buskers to donate all of their earnings over the Christmas period to charity.
His department is currently working on the Retail Development Strategy with the aim of boosting Jersey’s flagging high street.
‘I think if you look at where we were ten years ago, town does not feel so vibrant,’ he said during the hearing.
‘I have already looked into busking and other street theatre. I don’t think they are giving town enough permits.
‘Looking at the Royal Square, anywhere else in Europe it would be a bustling al fresco area and there would be music playing. If you create reasons for people to come to town, that will benefit retail. We should really be having the best of both British and European culture in the Island.’
When questioned on whether he thought there should be funding to boost street entertainment, Deputy Tadier said that he thought a ‘shared’ programme would work.
‘I think there could be a partnership between retail, the parish and our [Economic Development] Department,’ he said.
Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham added that he also thought ‘a more permissive regime’ for street entertainment would help the retail sector.
Both the minister and assistant minister said that they were also in favour of more relaxation of Sunday trading laws, something that is currently being considered to help boost retail.
Senator Farnham said, however, that any changes in the law would need to take into account people’s desire to attend church on Sundays. ‘We need to respect people’s religious beliefs but it is about choice in a modern society. We are stopping about 30 shops from opening on Sundays,’ he said.
Deputy Tadier added that he thought it was important to make sure that employees do not end up having to work excessive hours which prevent them from seeing their families.
On the topic of parking, Senator Farnham said that he believed Jersey did have sufficient parking spaces for shoppers but a large central car park would be more beneficial.
Deputy Tadier suggested that parishes could also help by taking greater public ownership of local retail sectors.
‘Les Quennevais precinct is privately owned and people ask things like, “Why don’t we have a Chriwstmas tree or decorations there?”,’ he said. ‘If you look at St Aubin, they do better there because there is more public realm.’
The hearing was attended by panel members Deputy Kirsten Morel and Deputy Scott Wickenden.
