A Hertford retailer is facing prosecution after installing a new shopfront without planning permission or listed building consent.

Castle Food & Wine in The Wash installed the new shopfront in November shortly before opening. Despite warnings from the council that they needed to apply for permission, they have failed to lodge any applications. Planning Officers are now recommending that enforcement action be taken, including prosecution if necessary.

The matter is due to be discussed at the next Development Control Committee meeting on 12th January 2011.

Plans for a hotel, nursing home, shops, nursery and 126 new homes have been turned down for a second time by the District Council.

The proposed development on the site of the former police station was almost identical to plans that were unanimously refused earlier in the year.

The council received over 90 letters of objection to the plans, whilst Hertford Town Council were scathing, stating: "this application showed no consideration to address the Committee’s comments to the previous application earlier his year. For both developer and the Police to make such an inappropriate application at this time, when the County Council Education Department, and the Police Authority themselves, are currently attempting to find ways to expand the capacity of the only school left on Kingsmead Ward defies logic."

The local school is currently oversubscribed, following the controversial closure of the nearby Pines School five years ago.

The plans were drawn up by Zog, a local company who are behind a number of large housing developments in the town, including Elder Court in Mead Lane. They have a history of planning application refusals and frequently lodge appeals with the Planning Inspectorate.

A new audio/visual shop has opened in Old Cross. HD Audio Visual specialises in Sonos audio systems, which allow you to stream music and audio throughout your home.

The shop occupies premises that were previously Asheham House Interiors.

In Bull Plain, D&J Nails are preparing to relocate their nail bar from their Railway Street premises, which they now operate a ladies and gents hair stylist.

A few doors up in the former delicatessen, Vintage at No.8 have opening a shop selling vintage ladieswear.

Opening hours for the town's supermarkets are as follows:

Tesco

Christmas Eve Open until 7pm
Christmas Day Closed
Boxing Day Closed
Monday 27th 9am-6pm
Tuesday 28th Open 24 hrs from 6am

Waitrose

Christmas Eve 8am-5pm
Christmas Day Closed
Boxing Day Closed
Monday 27th 9am-5pm
Tuesday 28th 9am-5pm

Marks and Spencer

Christmas Eve 7am-5pm
Christmas Day Closed
Boxing Day Closed
Monday 27th 9am-4pm
Tuesday 28th 9am-5pm

The towpath outside The Barge has been closed after further subsidence made the riverside path unsafe.

Repairs were previously undertaken in June after a trench opened up next to the pub. 

However, just months after those repairs there has been further subsidence and the counil have closed the path on safety grounds and to determine what further measures are necessary.

Work on a new Sainsbury's supermarket has started as contractors commence site clearance work at the Hertford Brewery.

Generators have been installed on site and vegetation removed from the north-eastern part of the site that will form part of the car park.

The Ram in Fore Street has re-opened, with a launch party on Friday attended by Fergus McMullen.

The new landlords are Steve Gale and Hannah Boote who are hoping to bring The Ram into the new year with a new look and atmosphere.

The pub also offers accomodation will the Bed & Breakfast rooms having been refurbished.

Hertford Theatre in The Wash has opened after a £1m refurbishment.

The major refit introduces a completely new foyer and cafe/bar, run by local business Serendipity. There is also a brand new box office, gallery area and studio.

The facility now boasts a marketing manager and artistic director. A new programme of events has been launched which includes theatrical productions and films.

Coming up between now and April are shows by Tom Courtney, Gyles Brandreth and Jeremy Hardy. Productions include a solo performance of George Orwell's Animal Farm, Alice In Wonderland, Hamlet and Under Milk Wood.

Upcoming films include The Social Network, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest and Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.

A full programme is available free from the Hertford Theatre .

The Environment Agency have started work on a project to restore part of Hartham Common north of the River Beane to a grazing meadow with ponds.

The area has been identified by the Countryside Management Service as a public space with little ecological or amenity value and potential to return the area to a grazing meadow. Not only will this create an important habitat for wildlife, it will also make it more accessible for the public.

The work will re-establish the natural flood regime by removing the embankment along the north bank of the Beane and placing a restriction in the river to allow flood water to once again flow onto the land.

The work started on Monday 29th November and is expected to take around six weeks.

The project also involves East Herts District Council, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and the Countryside Management Service.

Hertford Mayor Brenda Haddock opened a new letting agency in Parliament Square this morning.

The business specialises solely in lettings and is run by Managing Director Lisa Ward.

Commenting on the opening, Lisa said “ I am delighted to be opening a ‘soley’ lettings agency in Hertford and feel that I will be able to offer potential clients and customers a first class service being that our main focus is  residential lettings. I am very familiar with Hertford and the surrounding villages having worked in lettings and block management for a number of years.

Sage Ward are based at 12-14 Parliament Square in premises formerly occupied by Pertemps Employment Agency.