Comment: There is demand for yard space

Thursday 21 February 2019

Ross Le Brun is an advocate for small, local industry, and he has been campaigning for land for businesses like his to operate from for some time - with the latest news that there were not many applicants when land became available, he believes something other than a lack of demand may have been responsible.

"I was surprised to hear that our government is “incredibly frustrated” that they haven’t had more of a response to an advertisement they put in the back of the paper looking for expressions of interest to rent yards - yards that are yet to be built.

"I have mentioned it on Twitter, saying that maybe they could have also used their social media pages and directly contacted those that have requested space previously. 

"It’s much like their Commercial Premises Needs Survey in early 2017. Tenants at Fontaine Vinery were bizarrely omitted from it! Until I hilighted this and they then extended the deadline to allow us to have a say.

"On Twitter Deputy Inder replied to me “Nonsense. Demand clearly not as sold” and Deputy Langlois liked it.

Its the feeble attempt to market it. I’m a tenant down there and I wasn’t aware they were making more yards available! I happened to notice in a press that I rarely buy, an add looking for expressions of interest. It’s just a laughably bad attempt to sell them????????‍♂️ https://t.co/0ebfElRR9v

— Ross Le Brun (@RossLeBrun) 12 February 2019

"The fact is, the new yards are a success that were taken up immediately by grateful tenants. Certainly quicker than other similar States initiatives like the Digital Greenhouse.  There are no empty yards there and as a current tenant I was unaware that further yards were being released, so what chance would others have had if they missed that small ad hidden in the back of the paper?

"Griffiths' yard is one of the only successes of this term.  A small simple act that benefits a neglected part of our economy. Not a grand unachievable idea. Let’s have lots more small successes.  They will add up!  We bend over backwards to entice and assist off island start ups but seem reluctant to offer a comparative level of attention to those of us ploughing ahead making a living and contributing here already. There was reluctance in the States debate to allow these yards. Deputy Leadbeater spoke about us all being “big hitters in the industry, not small firms”.

"It’s nice to be considered a big hitter but the actual truth is my business is small and modest as were/are others there. The initial amendment by Deputy Laurie Queripel failed - it was aiming to go ahead and release redundant States land for open storage yards. The second won, which was to investigate it first. This might be being thorough in their eyes but in reality all it did was hold the process up by a year and cost time and effort on our stretched Civil Service. It happened, it’s been a success and is something for this States to shout from the roof tops how they have achieved something positive that’s been a benefit to local valued traders and employers. 

"Personally I’m grateful my own efforts to get new yards has been successful.  Our States and Civil Service should be proud of the positive impact too. I did a simple share on my Labour Force Gsy page of the  ad and got over 20 shares.  Hopefully now people are more aware of the deadline of the 22 February to make an expression of interest to States Property Services for a yard." 

Pictured top: Ross Le Brun over Griffith's yard at the Bridge.