As promised in my previous post I am placing my letter of objection to the latest planning application for Bircherley Green as submitted by Chase New Homes. The full list of documents accompanying the application can be viewed here. My own letter of objection is posted here and can be read as a .pdf file.… Continue reading Bircherley Green 2020
Tag: Hertford
The Great Wen
But what is to be fate of that great wen of all? The monster called … ?William Cobbett (1762 – 1835) Rural Rides, 1822. You may ask what William Cobbett has to do with modern day Hertford. In Cobbett’s time the Great Wen, the monster, was London. Today the great wen (or sore) in the… Continue reading The Great Wen
Fings aint what they used to be
Since it was announced that Chase Homes intended to buy Bircherley Green the newspapers, message boards and pubs have been full of hopes, plans and wish lists. Unfortunately the planning process does not work that way. I have lived in Hertford since 1980 but was born and grew up in Camden Town. On Saturday morning… Continue reading Fings aint what they used to be
This is your home town
Son take a good look aroundThis is your home town. Bruce Springsteen I am tired of everybody telling me that Hertford is the county town. Maybe it is; but on what grounds? Look at this. This is the situation facing anyone walking through Maidenhead Street towards Salisbury Square. You have to turn left and cross… Continue reading This is your home town
Hertford’s future now?
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?
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