TRADERS battling the aftermath of the fire at The Wellington pub in Welwyn are fighting back, declaring: We re still open for business . Since suffering a loss of trade - since the blaze on June 23 - Kelvin Dean, director of the High Street clothes shop

TRADERS battling the aftermath of the fire at The Wellington pub in Welwyn are fighting back, declaring: "We're still open for business".

Since suffering a loss of trade - since the blaze on June 23 - Kelvin Dean, director of the High Street clothes shop SuSu, has helped set up The Welwyn Traders Association.

Like the name suggests, the union of like minds, consists of shop owners throughout the village who had one main aim - to get a one-way system in place so parking could be reinstated.

After that wish was granted Mr Dean and his fellow traders now hope to carry on the group for at least a year to promote the many advantages the village has.

He told the Welwyn & Hatfield Times: "Most traders in the village suffered dramatically after the fire.

"We were very keen for the one-way system to be put in, and it has definitely improved the situation."

He went on to say locals were finding their way back into Welwyn, but he hoped visitors would do the same.

Mr Dean added: "We are trying to come up with ideas on how to get visitors coming back.

"We hope to do this by organising a couple of events in the village over the next few months, such as maybe a farmers' market, to show people we are still open."

The Welwyn Traders Association has met twice in six weeks at the White Hart pub.

If you want to attend the next meeting, at a date to be confirmed, call Mr Dean on 01438 718161.

To read arguments for and against the one-way system read this week's Welwyn & Hatfield Times.