Probe into rates at Liberty Wharf
Monday 25th July 2011, 2:33PM BST.
An investigation has been launched into rates at Liberty Wharf
AN investigation is being launched into why Liberty Wharf businesses are getting discounted rates.
St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft has asked the Attorney General, Tim Le Cocq, for advice on how to launch the inquiry after another St Helier business complained about discounts allegedly offered to businesses in the new shopping centre at Liberty Wharf.
Darius Pearce, who runs a jewellery outlet in the Central Market, said that he had been told that certain businesses had been discounted so that they were paying for just ten months for 2011.
It has not been confirmed which businesses are allegedly affected, but Liberty Wharf houses a number of outlets including a Marks and Spencer store, Costa Coffee and Hotel Chocolat.
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Is this going to be yet another example of corrupt practices in Jersey.
Liberty Wharf is such a waste of potential – the most obvious spot in town to attract tourists and what do they get ??? White Elephant springs to mind
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Sounds fair enough to me !
Get over it you whingers.
It is what you are here for:
- to be err.. probed over and over
surely you are used to it by now ?
HIDS x.
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I suspect that this is happening all over the town.
I know of a few businesses that have been offered initial ‘rent holidays’ to get them to take over vacant premises and then a discount and a review in a year or two.
It is very much a tenant’s market at the moment with landlords keen to fill empty property, better to get someone in and then have some rent in the future than have it standing empty and getting more desolate.
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Whilst you are investigating this – can we also please know if they are getting reduced rents or rent holidays as well?
Mind you last time I went down there the majority of the units were empty.
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I only have access to the brief online story but I am confused! Surely the Constable of St Helier himself would be able to see who pays how much rates in his parish without “an investigation” having to be made? I would imagine various discounts and sweeteners would have to be offered to retailers in Liberty Wharf to encourage anyone to try and trade there but if so this is hardly fair on other St Helier retailers who could all plead hard times.
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Why does Crowcroft need to have an enquiry when he should know what is going on in his own parish!!!!
Is this a clever way of his trying to pretend that “it had nothing to do with him” or otherwise trying to pass the buck? Is he not accountable? renewed office?
Does the right hand know what the leftist hand is doing?
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I suspect that the OWNERS are paying full rates, and then offering the tenants of the site a discount. Nothing wrong with that, common commercial practice.
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Oh the stupidity of the business owners and the St Helier Constable!
It is standard business practice, to offer preferencial rates to businesses to encourage them to occupy a “landmark” development. Especially when that development is deemed to be away from the main shopping area, this compensates the new tennents for lack of passing trade and encourages early population of the development. Without such “sweeteners” these developments can often take long periods to populate, and in extreme cases fail completely.
Key Traders such as M&S Home and Costa will attract trade to the benefit of all owners. There is no mistake that they occupy the two extremes of the development, and will probably have the most generous rates/rent packages.
In these tougher times big businesses want more reasons to open up shop where you want them too.
So Simon, stop wasting our money with another stupid enquiry and leave the businesses to get on with things before these companies decide its not worth them sticking around and providing jobs.
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They were advised not to try and drag the town down to the dockside by force…for a start it’s a major wind tunnel down there and with at least 8 months inclement weather…surely that says it all..but No, ‘they’ wanted to do it and when there were few takers…this practice started to entice them..so using taxpayers money to subsidize real rentals so we could not say I told you so…well we told you so…and to top it all they are putting a nightclub above the shops….which will greet the early morning shoppers with pools of spew ,fag ends and other unmentionables from the night before’s debauchery…lovely….Jersey you really know how top do things…NOT.
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“So Simon, stop wasting our money with another stupid enquiry and leave the businesses to get on with things before these companies decide its not worth them sticking around and providing jobs.”
I suspect that it is ultimately doomed and when the sweeteners end it will be be left empty.
The failure on the Waterfront is a symbol of the wrongheadness and hubris of the current ruling group and their inability to think strategically.
Just wait until WEB’s big brother gets going, that will be bound to sire diasters that will make the Waterfront look like very small beer!
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Not surprisingly, most (nearly all) of the businesses are run by one company who are getting preferential treatment to help make this unwanted and unnecessary addition to the retail acreage, a success.
The waterfront (WEB’s baby) must be a success no matter how much it destroys the heart of traditional St. Helier.
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11. of course WEB has to justify themselves – they get £300k per year – plus bonuses they are hardly likely to let this boondogle (wonderful US expression) be stopped are they?
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