FOCUS: The Bridge and its bright future

Friday 02 February 2024

With footfall holding steady, and interest in the current vacant units, there's lots to be positive about 'to the Bridge' as Express found out this week.

The Leale's Yard development seems like it may get off the ground this time round with planning permission in place, an agreement with the States to buy some of the newly built homes when they're ready and work happening recently to remove asbestos roofs and to put up security gates.

The Coop still needs to secure the funding for the project though and with reports elsewhere today suggesting that the States proposed £35million investment in the 'Bridge revitalisation' be split so some of the money can instead be used to build a new sixth form centre at Les Ozouets, there could be more uncertainty there.

Regardless of Leale's Yard though, the Bridge remains Guernsey's second retail centre and the Head of Business Development for the Guernsey Retail Group said that is reflected in the steady footfall the area sees.

"The count on the Bridge is the same as it was for the end of Quarter 3, which was at the end of September," said Korrine Le Page this week. "It's around 7% so that hasn't changed. But we do know that there is more movement happening because, of course, the shops that (are) empty now closed after we did the count at the end of December for Quarter 4."

Pictured: Both the Coop Locale and Shoezone have recently closed, but there is said to be high interest in the vacant units.

Ms Le Page said those two empty units - the former Shoezone and Coop Locale stores - have both attracted interest with high hopes that new tenants will move in this year.

"We know of businesses who want to expand, and they're looking for larger premises. There's at least two on the Bridge that are looking to expand and relocate, so that's all very positive movement," she said.

Martin Search, a long standing Bridge businessman who has worked at Ray and Scott jewellers for fifty years, has also heard positive rumours about shops looking to move into the empty units.

He said whatever the new tenants offer will add to the vibrancy the Bridge already has.

"At the moment, there's a few other shops and businesses that are real long standing members," he said. "Most of the shops are self owned and run, and and it's a very good local spirit on the Bridge. A lot of the shops have been here, like myself, for many, many decades, and it works. We have, unfortunately due to what's going on in retail, lost a few shops but that's the same in St Peter Port and the same all over the world, certainly in England."

Mr Search is an outspoken advocate of all that is good about the Bridge - and he's always pushing for more investment.

I think the Bridge is totally and utterly underutilised and has been for the last five decades," he said. "I've been chirping on about this for at least three decades and I've pinpointed areas that can improve and yes we've got certain people that say 'no, we don't fix what isn't broken', but I actually think we need to progress because if we don't progress, we're going backwards."

Pictured: Martin Search has worked at the Bridge for 50 years, having started as a Saturday assistant at Ray and Scott in the 1970s. He went on to buy the business in the 1980s.

The Bridge Candy Shop is another iconic local business which has been owned by the Brouard family for more than 20 years. 

Daphne Brouard, her late husband Steve and more recently her daughter Rhian Whitchurch, have owned the shop for 23 years but Mrs Brouard said the shop has been there since at least the 1960s.

Having seen many changes at the Bridge, Mrs Brouard understands exactly why businesses like hers work so well. 

"Given it’s been round so long it’s quite an iconic shop on the Bridge loved by all ages," she said simply.

"We stand out from other convenience stores which can become quite formulaic, with same products week in week out. We are always on the look out for the latest trends in confectionary and import products from all over the world. People like the traditional aspect of the sweets in jars and many families who have moved off the island make a point of making a visit back to the shop when on island with their own children, sharing memories of when they were small in the shop."

The Bridge benefits from passing traffic as well as shoppers heading there for on purpose so businesses like Ray and Scott and the Bridge Candy Shop and all the other retailers offering innumerable things to buy in between those two examples, can tailor their offerings to their differing custom bases said Mrs Brouard.

This is reflected in the number of long standing businesses which line the Bridge and its surrounding areas. 

"We have a large pool of regular customers, as well as staff who have been with us for many, many years so there is a familiarity between staff and customers alike.

"There are fewer and fewer small family fun businesses on the island and I think customers appreciate the sense of community offered by a shop which isn’t so ‘corporate’ looking. It’s currently accessible for those with limited mobility as you can park right in front of the shops. It’s less ‘hassle’ or daunting for many compared to going into town. There’s always some familiar faces around with a great sense of community. You can pick up all your daily needs in a small area."

Pictured: The latest plans for Leale's Yard have got planning permission. 

Mrs Brouard, Mr Search and Ms Le Page all seem confident the Leale's Yard development is finally going to progress this time round.

Other shopkeepers on the Bridge told Express they've seen movement there recently with asbestos roofs being removed and gates being installed.

Mrs Brouard said she's keen to see the community benefit from more outside spaces as well as the expected benefits to the retail sector. 

"...I think it would be nice to see some more cafes or restaurants with outdoor seating," she said. "Perhaps a small play park of sorts to make it more a destination for families.

"My biggest concern is that the Bridge would be pedestrianised, as we and other outlets along the main strip totally rely on the immediate parking outside our shops."

Mr Search also has concerns over how any changes to parking could impact some of the businesses which rely on passing traffic. He went so far as to say he is "frightened" of the impact it may have.

"I'm frightened for the Bridge from the point of view that there will be a change to the northern end of the Bridge for parking etc. The Bridge thrives through having the parking directly outside the shop. If it's not handled with great care, we could lose what we've got. 

"As I've said to somebody from Traffic, what would you put in the places of these shops when they close? And the person from Traffic looked at me with an open mouth, 'what do you mean?' Because they didn't have a grasp on what the situation was. 

"Now, change is not always for a bad thing, but I am frightened and hopefully that will be put aside and everything will work out good. I know this thing is going to happen and I think we we've got to fight our corner to make sure it's done the right way."

Ms Le Page is much more positive about what may come with the Leale's Yard development, saying "it really has created this buzz, and I think that coupled with the Eastern Development Projects wanting to reroute the road through there and make it more of a promenade along where the shops are...then I think that together, hand in hand, has brought a lot of excitement as well for the Bridge and the fact that it's actually going to be happening".

Pictured: GO started life on the Bridge, before moving to North Side and now it's got a permanent base on South Side.

One change which is noticeable at the Bridge now, compared to a few years ago is the decrease in the number of charity shops.

The area once had a reputation for being 'all charity shops' but that is not the case now. Three remain - with the Salvation Army Community Cafe on Nocq Road, the Cheshire Home shop on Southside, and the new GO outlet also on Southside. The Citizens Advice and the RNLI also have facilities at the Bridge for their offices and some retail. 

Michael Sheen from GO said when they were looking to move from the old Quayside site on North Side - which itself is nearing redevelopment stage - the site on South Side was ideal with large spaces for retail, workshops, training, and a car park too.

"We've got this to the end of the decade, which is important to us, because then we know that we've got our roots here. We're not going to be looking at moving at any moment in time, so that that has made a big difference, actually, because now we can make sure that everything we're putting in place is going to be here for the long term."

Mr Sheen said for their staff and customers, the Bridge is the ideal location to be.

"I think because we've moved to the South Side, we're getting a lot more people who drive past and maybe stop and see us or they're walking by whereas on the North Side we were in a position where you had to go out of the way to come and see us."

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