Coffee shop ruling makes a mug of council's cafe ban

CHRISTCHURCH is to get its 15th coffee shop after a planning inspector ruled that councillors were wrong to turn down an application on the grounds the town was overrun with them.

The town hit the headlines earlier this year when Coffee#1 applied to open a branch in the high street, prompting councillors and residents to attack the myriad of cafes in the town centre.

The former borough council’s planning committee refused the application, citing policy which states just 30% of shops should be food and drink outlets. There were also over a 100 signatures from locals on a petition against the the bid to open another coffee shop.

But now appeals inspector Sophie Edwards has ruled against that decision, saying the plan to transform Shoe Zone, which has been closed for two years, into a coffee shop is more “beneficial” to Christchurch than leaving it shut.

She dismissed the council’s concerns over the number of establishments, saying: 'I accept that the council is seeking to preserve the retail function of Christchurch town centre and is concerned with the proliferation of non-retail uses within this area.

“However, rather than adversely affecting the vitality and viability of the town centre, the proposed use would complement the offer in this area and attract footfall for longer periods of the day and evening, which in turn would be beneficial to existing retailers."

She also said that worry about competition between coffee shops was not a planning consideration.

The decision has received mixed reaction from residents. Posting on Facebook, Andrea Burns said: “I am so sad to see what is happening to Christchurch town centre. Another coffee shop does not make any sense.

“If I was visiting Christchurch as a holiday maker, I would be very disappointed in the choice of shopping outlets. Not good for tourism or our local trade.”

Michelle Bailey wrote: “There is a great need for more than just coffee here in this town; we have nothing left

“You have to cross over into Bournemouth to be able to buy anything or do any real shopping. I have lived here my whole life and Christchurch town centre has never been as empty or as pointless as it is today."

But other residents approved of the inspector’s ruling. Mary Osaer posted: “Better than an empty shop! People will just have to up their game if there's healthy competition. It's business

“If people aren't coming up with other shops what can we do? I would love to open another clothes shop in the town but don't have the resources to do it. Any business is good if it brings the high street back from the dead.”

Amanda Osborne Stone agreed, saying: “Thank goodness it's now been passed. Absolutely ridiculous that people would oppose this and rather a rundown empty unit.”

Coffee#1 had argued that Shoe Zone had been empty for a long time, and that despite the council trying to engage another business to take over the Grade II listed building, there had been no interest. The new café will open later this year.