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A pop-up tent blocking the entrance to Don Street has resulted in a "massive" decrease in footfall for businesses based there, according to a local candle shop owner.
Claire Bethell of Don Street-based Pretty Okay Candle Co said she tried to contact the Parish of St Helier for ten weeks before posting about her concerns on social media.
Claire opened her shop on Don Street in February 2022 to sell Jersey-made candles and diffusers, and host candle-making workshops.
But when tents started appearing at the end of Don Street and blocking off the entrance, the local business owner found the number of visitors to Pretty Okay Candle Co went down by as much as two-thirds.
Claire initially raised her concerns about the tents – which are available for businesses to hire for £40 a day – with the Town Centre Manager.
But after nothing changed, she took to social media to share her woes with the public.
Claire wrote: "I am usually a very positive and upbeat person so apologies that this post isn’t like our usual ones but I need your help and support Pretty Okay fans…
"Our Jersey shop on Don Street has from the start of this summer been repeatedly blocked off by pop up tents that block off pedestrian access to us.
"We are directly behind them and go noticeably quieter on these days… along with other businesses on Don Street."
She added: "Anyone shopping in town on the days when the tents are there, especially visitors to the island, would walk past these tents and assume there is nothing to see behind them as they block off most of the street.
"I have repeatedly emailed the Town Centre Manager and assistant (weekly) with photos of the tents – but very rarely get a reply sadly.
"There are SO many empty shops in town and so many other places these tents could go that wouldn’t affect other businesses and would be in great positions for those running the pop up tents which I wholeheartedly support."
After posting on Facebook on Friday 12 July, Claire was visited by St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft who was understanding of the problems faced by Pretty Okay Candle Co and their neighbours, family-run toy shop Bambola Toymasters.
"He said that he'd try and put a stop to it," said Claire. "He's all for this kind of street... He really supports Don Street."
Pictured: Pretty Okay Candle Co sees a "massive" decrease in customers when it is hidden from the high street by a tent.
The candle shop owner told Express that there had been "a massive drop in footfall" since the tents were installed.
She explained that this was worse during July and August, when the shop would normally see plenty of tourists come in.
Claire said the the tents made Don Street look like "there is nothing there" and raised concerns that tourists "won't stumble across us".
But she stressed that she supported local businesses and pop-up stalls – having started out with a pop-up shop herself.
Instead of blocking Don Street, Claire suggested they could change the orientation of the stalls to invite foot traffic, or place themselves in front of one of King Street and Queen Street's empty shopfronts.
She added that, after Constable Crowcroft's visit, there hadn't been a new stall on the street on Friday 19 July.
With no indication as to whether this was coincidence or a change in policy, Claire was hopeful that things would continue improving.
"It's just frustrating," she said.
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