Bunting will finally go up in St Peter Port this summer.
The new bunting, which was purchased last year by Ravenscroft, was due to go up in April but this was delayed due to lockdown.
With restrictions beginning to ease, permission has now been given for the bunting to be put up through the Lower Pollet, La Plaiderie, Pollet, Smith Street, High Street, Mill Street and Fountain Street.
Event Services, who provide their time at a discounted rate, will begin on Monday and will be helped by volunteers and the Guernsey Retail Group. The bunting in the Arcade, which needs to be put up by ladder, will need to wait until restrictions are eased further.
Last year, there was doubt that the tradition of the colourful bunting being hung throughout Town could continue. The Town Centre Partnership (TCP), which had responsibility for it, was on the verge of disbanding and didn’t have the funds to pay for the hire of the crane. Most of the bunting was also in poor condition and volunteer numbers had dwindled.
Following a plea from TCP, Ravenscroft agreed to pay for the 2019 costs and buy 12,500m of new bunting. At the end of last year, the Guernsey Retail Group agreed to take responsibility for arrangements with Ravenscroft continuing to cover the costs of the crane.
“This is a brilliant example of Guernsey businesses and organisations coming together for the benefit of the island. Town wouldn’t have looked the same without the bunting and we hope that it will make a difference. We know summer in Guernsey will be unusual this year but we are lucky to live in such a beautiful place and hopefully people will appreciate the bunting when they are shopping in Town and supporting local businesses,” said Andrew Pouteaux who was on TCP and has co-ordinated this year’s efforts.
Jonathan Creasey, chairman of Guernsey Retail Group, said that the retail sector had suffered considerably due to lockdown, despite many businesses adapting.
“It has been a very tough few months for the retail industry and with no tourists coming, it is going to be an extremely difficult year. It’s been fantastic to see how the sector has evolved to meet the challenge of lockdown and how the community has supported them. We hope that will continue when shops can reopen and the bunting will add to the atmosphere as Town comes back to life. We are very grateful to Ravenscroft for the invaluable financial support as it wouldn’t be possible without them.”
