A business that has been trading for more than 110 years is to close because its owners are not able to bring it up to the required level of fire safety.
H Seeley and Co in Clevedon, Somerset, which sells stationery, newspapers and books, was visited by fire safety inspectors earlier this year and was told the premises needed fire separation between the shop’s ceiling and properties above.
Mike Seeley, whose grandfather founded the shop in 1900 and who took over the business from his father in 1972, said the work would cost around £10,000.
Mr Seeley, 78, told the Western Daily Press: “The shop floor is about 2,500 sq ft so it would be a big job to fireproof the ceiling and cost in excess of £10,000, which is money that I do not have. I have decided, especially at my age and with no one to pass the business onto, that it is just not worth spending the money.
“I will be ever so sorry to finish the business, I am heartbroken really, but I have no choice.”
