Cafés Warned About Outdoor Seating

Reports on social media suggest that the local council is cracking down on unlicensed seating outside cafes in Hertford.

It is unclear whether officials who visited premises on Thursday are from the county or district council, although licencing for outdoor seating is the responsibility of Hertfordshire County Council.

Reaction from the public has been generally negative:

".. how could a couple of outside tables inconvenience anybody ..."

"... They should be ashamed of themselves. Hertford is now looking like a ghost town, they should be encouraging the shops and cafes who are staying"

"... Our lovely little town is dying on its arse and one of the things that brings people and money into the town on sunny days is all our little cafes with their seating outside" 

However, others were supportive of the action:

" ... As it’s a public footpath, it makes sense to me that if a private enterprise wishes to use part of it to make money, that it pays something to the authority that is elected to manage it."

"... If you are poor sighted or blind, a street full of tables every few yards is a minefield, hence the rules."

With the recent warm weather, an increasing number of premises have been putting seating outside for their customers. However, this can only be done if a business has purchased a licence from the County Council, which costs £350 for the first year. Other businesses have been given planning permission to place seating in pedestrianised areas.