THE owner of a well-known Aberystwyth shop close to Aberystwyth promenade has been left “frustrated” after being told that the store will be closed until a police cordon protecting the scene of a major fire is lifted.

Stars, on Terrace Road, is within the cordon set up by police after a fire ripped through the Ty Belgrave House hotel on Marine Terrace early on Wednesday morning.

While neighbouring properties were damaged, there was no damage to the Stars building, but Jennie Miller, the shop’s owner, said she is not being allowed by police and health and safety officers to open the store - or even enter to retrieve stock.

“It is frustrating,” she told the Cambrian News. “The shop has not been damaged, but we are within the cordon and can’t do anything.

“It is the worst time of the year for this to happen.”

It is the first time the shop, which has been running for more than 24 years, has been closed other than Christmas Day or Boxing Day, and Jennie and her four members of staff now face an anxious wait as to when they can reopen at the peak of the summer holidays.

“I have looked at a temporary site for the shop while this is being done, but I was told I couldn’t enter the building to pick up stock,” Jennie said.

“I have members of staff to support, but unfortunately, we are stuck.

“I love our position next to the prom and we are not moving, and we will reopen whenever we are given the go-ahead.”

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