Now that the dust has settled on the planning application for Bircherley Green Shopping Centre it is time to think ahead. There are still a few permissions and details to be finalised but for many the die has already been cast. The owners of the site have given everybody notice to quit. This was not… Continue reading Hertford’s future now?
Category: Around Hertford
Hertford retail – Part Three
During my time as Town Centre Manager it was easy to promote Hertford, a different but amazing kind of town full of independent traders; a town where you could still find a haberdashery (since closed), ironmongers and diving school (closed since December 2016 and premises still unoccupied). That wide retail offer continues to decline since… Continue reading Hertford retail – Part Three
A walk through Hertford 2017
Wrenbridge have just submitted the final plans for the redevelopment of Bircherley Green Shopping Centre after months of discussion between themselves and East Herts Planning Department, local groups, residents and more than enough statutory consultant bodies such as the Environment Agency and the Canal and River Trust that you can throw a blueprint at. If… Continue reading A walk through Hertford 2017
Claydons gone
Looking back over these posts they all follow a similar pattern. One of closure, redundancy and retirement. John and Judy Workman called in at Waitrose the other day and told my wife that they had retired. John is better known incorrectly as John Claydon – the fishmonger. They had a shop – Claydons – in… Continue reading Claydons gone
New skyline in Hertford
One of my regular on-line contacts emailed me yesterday to let me know that the George Robey pub in Finsbury Park has been demolished; gone. You may not know but George Robey was a star of the music hall and it is quite something to have a pub named after you. I mentioned George Robey… Continue reading New skyline in Hertford
Hertford retail – Part Two
Where in Hertford can you buy a pair of shoes, ladies underwear or a baby’s potty? The answer is that you can’t; not if you like your foot to be measured, are a lady of a certain age or have searched all the obvious places like chemist shops. I found the latter item in Messages… Continue reading Hertford retail – Part Two
Does the 724 run on time
Why does the Arriva 724 bus service between Harlow and Heathrow never run on time? Why doesn’t the 724 run to the timetable? Why is the Arriva Harlow to Heathrow bus service invariably late more times than it is on time? Why is one or more runs cancelled at short notice without any warning? Why… Continue reading Does the 724 run on time
Regeneration
I went out today at about 3.00pm to visit the Post Office. Fortunately I was walking. A Boots delivery van was badly parked on the corner of Railway Street behind the delivery bay. A 310 double decker bus was unable to complete a turn from Market Street resulting in a queue of traffic down Market… Continue reading Regeneration
Death by a thousand cuts
Hertford has reasonably good transport links owing to its two train stations and bus station. Buses run almost to timetable except the Arriva 724 Harlow to Heathrow route which travels along a parallel universe where there are no hands on the clocks and it is never late until twenty minutes past the time indicated on… Continue reading Death by a thousand cuts
Hertford’s Retail Offer
Yesterday I walked though Hertford town centre and noticed that the shop in Railway Street once occupied by Thomas Cook was now empty and available for rent. The staff have apparently been relocated to Welwyn Garden City. This is another loss to the retail offer in town. Amidst the continuing uncertainty over the future of… Continue reading Hertford’s Retail Offer