So, the powers of conservatism in Hertford have finally won. The developers have pulled out of the second phase of the Bircherley Green redevelopment scheme. This is a Pyrrhic victory at best. We are left with a shopping centre with empty and boarded up shops and grass growing through every crack like a town in …
So, the final act as been played out and the Hertford Waitrose is no more. Some might say this is a sad day for the town but more of that later. I am reminded of Marc Antony in Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 2 The evil that men do lives after them; The good is …
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 …
Finally the second boot has fallen. It has been announced in black and white (well dark Waitrose battleship grey and white) that the Hertford branch of Waitrose will be closing for the final time at 4.00pm on Tuesday September 12 2017. This will come as no surprise to many – those who have been closely …
It was with a wry smile that I read in the Hertfordshire Mercury that Hertford Town Council had voted unanimously to reject the planning application to redevelop Bircherley Green. This would be fine if it wasn’t so wrong or, far from the truth. It was the Planning sub-committee that voted to reject the plans. There …
I have already made some initial comments on the planing application recently submitted for the redevelopment of Bircherley Green Shopping Centre (see right). It is not going to win any awards but it does attempt to remove one eyesore from the centre of Hertford without putting another in its place. The Planning Statement comments: In summary, …
Finally after many months of bated breath a planning application has been made for the redevelopment of Bircherley Green Shopping Centre. Both are long overdue. If you cannot wait any longer this is the link to the the appropriate page: https://www.publicaccess.eastherts.gov.uk and enter 3/17/0392/FUL into the search box. There are pages and pages supporting the …
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 …
That thud on the doormat was not the daily delivery of junk mail, nor the latest manuscript submission to a publisher rejected for the second or third time but the other boot finally falling. That boot is of course the confirmed closure of Waitrose in Bircherley Green in September 2017. It was the only outcome …
Welcome 2017. Me and Mrs B took a stroll around town last Saturday (31st December 2016) and discovered a few things. In Depth Diving School in Bull Plain has closed. This was quite unexpected. I always highlighted them in reports as one of three independent traders that were unique to Hertford. The other two being …