Roadworks ‘nightmare’ for L’Islet traders as Christmas approaches

Guernsey Electricity is carrying out work in Route Carre and Sandy Hook to the east of L’Islet, as well as along Les Martins and Salines Road to the west.

‘Having two roads up at the moment is the biggest problem,’ said Lucy Rose Jewellery owner Lucy Hancock, whose business is one of several in the Bakery Complex.

The only access to the Bakery Complex is via the west coast main road.

Mrs Hancock said she had seen a drop of more than 50% in trade since the works began two weeks ago and there were still three weeks scheduled to go.

‘I’m trying to be optimistic. Luckily it’s not yet December and hopefully by then things will be better.’

CheZoe owner Karien Breedt said she had also seen about half as much business as normal since the work started.

‘It’s absolutely ridiculous,’ she said. ‘It’s been an absolute nightmare.’

She appreciated that the work needed to be done, ‘but surely they could have planned it a bit better?’

She is offering free delivery to customers while the roadworks continue.

Sula Framing and Gallery owner Hayley Bachelet said that her trade had fallen substantially.

‘The first week we were about 90% down, and this in the lead-up to Christmas is the worst possible time for a business like ours,’ she said.

As well as people looking for framing services, she said there were other customers who would just shop for gifts.

‘We’re still getting the framing jobs, but it’s really difficult.’

On top of this the gallery is due to open a new exhibition by local artist Petra Palmeri today and Mrs Bachelet hoped people would be able to get there.

Greg Yeoman, head of M&S Guernsey, said the Route Carre business lost several hundred customer transactions a week when there were any roadworks in the area.

‘We understand that infrastructure upgrades are necessary and we were alerted to this work in advance,’ he said.

‘However, it does have a profound impact on our business.’

This was the second time this year that the store had been affected badly by road closures.

‘Our customers tell us that the signage information provided to divert traffic is limited and confusing,’ he said.

The situation was made even more difficult by the number of road closures in the local area.

The States’ head of on-island travel and transport implementation, Laura Oxburgh, said efforts were made to ensure that roadworks were planned carefully to maintain access to businesses wherever possible.

Signage was installed to help, but there was a limit to the amount of information that could fit on a road sign.

‘In this instance, since Guernsey Electricity’s works in the area began, signs have been in place to help road users understand how they can access certain businesses,’ she said.

‘We also posted about access to businesses on Traffic and Highway Services’ social media which has a combined following of approximately 7,000 people.’

• Route Carre is due to reopen on 29 November.