Backing for businesses affected by fire in Hereford city centre

Herefordshire Council has pledged its support to the businesses hit by the blaze which affected the city centre of Hereford last Thursday morning.

The authority’s economic development team is now looking through the area to see if they can help these local businesses find some alternative premises which are suitable for either temporary or permanent use.

This push is in a bid to get the businesses affected by this event back on their feet as soon as possible so they do not suffer further from the fire damage which ripped through the area of High Town in the city centre.

The team are also aiming to help the businesses in terms of the business rates they pay on their fire damaged premises until the renovation work has been completed.

The council has also agreed to waive its daily charge for businesses unable to operate because of the blaze.

The city centre fire gutted a 15th Century pub, while three other shops are said to have been damaged in the blaze which was reported at 4.30am.

At its height over 100 firefighters battled the flames as they spread through the buildings.

Police have revealed that the fire may have been caused due to an electrical fault.