Bookshop To Close

Books@Hertford in Railway Street are to close at the end of the month.

Co-owner Alan Jeffery rounded on East Herts Council for their lack of support for businesses and "ruthless parking enforcement" as contributing factors in the failure of the shop.

Mr.Jeffery owns the business with Stephen Poulter, who accused the council of persecuting businesses over infringements of planning laws.

As well as the rising cost of parking in the town, Mr.Jeffery criticised the parking regime, saying "Thousands of people from nearby towns have stopped coming into Hertford after being fined for staying a few minutes over their allotted time, while those who do visit have to rush in and out of shops frantically checking their watches to make sure they get back to their cars before the traffic wardens pounce."

The shop will close at the end of the month when the lease expires.