It's been like that for about a week - don't get too excited I think it's to stop the idots parking there illegally. At least it will stop the rubbish gathering in there.
I'd like to know too. There are lot of empty shops in the high street, more now than when I first came here. Some are derelict. Infact I'll start another thread about this.
I wonder if we should email julie when we see this sort of thing happening so she can alert whoever is in charge of conservation area status. They might be able to find out what plans are afoot before the owners of the site do something drastic and irreversible with it.