Yum Yum and Caffe Yum had a grand opening yesterday morning, with Hertbeat FM broadcasting from the town.

Laura Stylianou and her partner, Richard, have opened the twin businesses in the former premises of Wigginton's in Old Cross.

Yum Yum sells ice cream, smoothier, waffles and milkshakes, whilst Caffe Yum sells teas, coffee and cakes.

Hertford Museum re-opened yesterday morning after a major refurbishment

The National Lottery funded project took over a year and included a new extention, resource room, shop and reception area.

The museum's extensive collection of old photos are now available to view on a touch-screen kiosk. There is also an audio collection of reminiscences from the oral archive.

www.hertfordmuseum.org

Bridge repairs on Gascoyne Way are set to disrupt traffic for up to five months during the Spring and Summer.

The works will include bridge strengethening and improvements to the parapets and waterproofing.

The carriageways will be reduced to a single lane during off-peak hours and a contraflow system will operate on some weekends.

The work will start on Monday 15th March and is scheduled to finish in mid-August

Police are appealing for information after arsonists struck in an underground car park in Mead Lane.

The fire brigade attended the incident in the early hours of Friday morning at Elder Court, a development of new flats that are in the final stages of construction. Some units have already occupied.

It is believed that the offender(s) gained entry to the underground car park and deliberately set fire to some building materials which were stored in a parking bay, causing substantial damage.

PC Sarah Burkert, investigating, said: “Not only was the cost of the damage to the building materials in excess of £5000, but this was in a residential area and the fire could have spread and put people’s lives in danger.

“I would like to speak to anyone who believes they saw any suspiciously activity in the area that night. Please contact me as soon as possible via the non emergency number 0845 3300222 as soon as possible quoting crime reference number A1/10/496.”

Hertford Town Centre has been hit by a series of power cuts.

Bircherley Green, Bluecoats, parts of Railway Street and Tesco were all without power for an hour last night from 7-8pm. Waitrose lost large parts of their chilled stock in the outage.

Today, parts of Bircherley Green are still without power due to a sub-station fault. Lloyds Bank and M&Co are both closed. Halfords have re-opened after being closed earlier in the day.

Contractors for EDF are currently on site but are currently unable to say when the problem will be fixed.

A section of pavement in Fore Street has been cordoned off after masonry fell from the roof of The Corn Exchange.

The Grade II listed building is leased to East Herts District Council but owned by Lansdowne Properties.

The building has been subject to a series of maintenance issues, with the council previously unable to contact the owner to discuss the deteriorating state of the structure.

The venue is operated by Chris Addison, who stages live music and comedy on the first floor.

Controversial plans to expand Wheatcroft School have been put on hold after a County Council meeting last week.

The plans would have meant the relocation of Kingsmead Pre-School and the use of playing fields a quarter of a mile from the school.

The Council's Cabinet agreed not to go ahead with the expansion and will seek accommodation elsewhere is the town.

Demand for primary school places is expected to increase significantly next year following a period of decline.

A waste site in Hertford has been operating for the last six years without planning permission.

Bridgeman & Son in Mead Lane have been operating the site since 1993. However, planning permission granted in 1999 for a five year period expired in 2004 and has not been renewed. The company have now submitted a further planning application.

The business handles construction, demolition, commercial and industrial waste.

Since planning permission was last granted, the site has become largely residential, with 250 properties constructed adjacent to the yard.

The facility employs 12 people and operates from 7am to 5pm weekdays and 7am to midday on Saturdays. Average daily vehicle movements to the site are 84 (42 in and 42 out).

Members of the public have until 4th March to comment on the application. 

Hertford is celebrating Shrove Tuesday by staging pancake races in Maidenhead Street on Tuesday.

The Town Council are inviting teams of four to take part in the races from 11:30am onwards.

Entry is free and forms are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Market Place.

Asheham House could become a dental surgery if planners give the go-ahead.

The Old Cross shop became vacant at the beginning of the year when Asheham House Interiors vacated the premises.

A planning application has now been submitted for change of use from a retail shop to a dental practice.

Another planning application for a dental practice in Railway Street has also been submitted to the council recently.