POPULAR trading post Easter Hall has been forced to close its doors to customers due to Uttlesford District Council denying a planning application for the site to sell goods. Christmas is usually a very lucrative time for the company, based at Aythorpe Ro

POPULAR trading post Easter Hall has been forced to close its doors to customers due to Uttlesford District Council denying a planning application for the site to sell goods.

Christmas is usually a very lucrative time for the company, based at Aythorpe Roding, near Dunmow, as they sell all manner of festive items, and have done so at the site for the last 14 years.

Local shopper James Hetherington noticed the shop wasn't open for this year's festive season.

He said: "My parents have been going there for ages, it's such a shame it has closed, the council hasn't even said anything about it. I bet it has cost people their jobs."

A council spokesman told the Broadcast that the application had been denied due to "sustainability issues".

Mark Jerram of ChristmasWrappedUp, who traded at Easter Hall, said he had been left "bemused" by council's decision not to grant the application.

An appeal against the decision was then dismissed leaving the company the only option of a High Court hearing. Mr Jerram said he would not be appealing against the decision: "We don't think it would be worth appealing again as we really don't know what we are even appealing against."

The company continues to trade from its online service at www.christmaswrapped

up.co.uk