Meriden business owners, who fear a mass closure, “are at the end of their tether” after not hearing from the Watford Community Housing in weeks.

Individual appointments were made with seven shop owners from York Way, not including the Co-op, on March 23.

The meetings were held for several reasons, but they were collectively calling on WCH to stop taking rent until the car park was open.

As of April 19, the businesses have claimed that no-one from the organisation has contacted them since the meetings.

Donald Langford, who co-owns the Meriden Fish Bar with Ferhat Cicek, has become somewhat of an official spokesperson for the shopkeepers.

Watford Observer: Donald Langford (left) co-owns the Meriden Fish Bar with Ferhat Cicek (right). Donald Langford (left) co-owns the Meriden Fish Bar with Ferhat Cicek (right). (Image: Meriden Fish Bar)

He told the Watford Observer: “Since those meetings we have not heard from anyone at WCH.

“One of us emailed our contact there last week and got an out of office saying they had left. Who is now held accountable?”

He said the shop owners are now at the “end of their tether” and every day they discuss the very real concern that the shops will have to close due to a lack of customers.

Shop owners have largely laid the blame of fewer customers due to the new row of shops not having a car park as the old parade did.

Watford Observer: Car park outside the shops in The Gossamers before the buildings were knocked down for development. Car park outside the shops in The Gossamers before the buildings were knocked down for development. (Image: Google Street View)

Mr Langford added: “I was expecting to hear back from WCH a week after those meetings.

“It’s mind boggling, it’s hard to know what is going on above them.

“We are all distraught, looking for help and answers, but there is nothing.”

Watford Observer: There has been an ongoing dispute regarding the opening of the Meriden's temporary car park.There has been an ongoing dispute regarding the opening of the Meriden's temporary car park. (Image: Newsquest)

The new row of shops is part of the £36 million Meriden regeneration project that also included 131 homes for affordable or social rent, a 50-bed extra care facility for elderly people, and two homes for shared ownership on land between The Gossamers and York Way.

Those who had businesses in the old parade claimed they were told the new car park would be open at the same time as the new shops.

When the Watford Observer asked WCH if they had contacted any of the shop owners since the meetings in March it declined to comment.