BARNARD Castle town councillors are opposing a restaurateur’s plans to convert a clothing shop into a cafe because there are already “too many selling hot food”.
Il Palazzo restaurant owner Kamal Alley wants to open a second eatery in the town in the building currently occupied by Boho Boo, in Market Place. But the town council’s planning committee says there are already enough cafes in the area and they want to save the retail space.
They are also concerned the proposal has not made provision for disabled people.
The move requires a change of use from class A1 retail to class A3 cafe/restaurant.
Speaking during the council's planning committee meeting last week, Cllr George Hallimond said: “Haven’t we got enough cafes in Barney? There are too many, so it becomes cut-throat, and then no one makes a living out of it.”
Cllr John Blissett added: “I have total reservations about this one. At the end of the day it is going to affect the other eateries around there. You've got Clarendon’s, you've got the Turks Head next door and there are two across the road. We have to think of all the other businesses that are already in existence in that area.”
Committee chairman Cllr Frank Harrison said: “There are too many premises selling hot food.”
Deputy town clerk Jane Woodward told councillors the proposal could be in conflict with the Teesdale Local Plan which states: “Proposals for change of use of ground floor frontages from class A1 will not be permitted where they would be materially harmful to the primary shopping function, vitality and viability of the town centre.”
She added that the proposal did not mention provision for disabled people.
Cllr Hallimond, who uses a wheelchair, said: “When they are doing a conversion they are supposed to cater for disabled people.”
In the planning application, Mr Alley’s agent, Rod Hepplewhite, of Prism Planning, questioned how much weight should be given to the Teesdale Plan as it is eight years out of date.
He said: “As the proposed change of use of the premises to a use [that is] complimentary to the main retail purpose of the town centre, it is considered that the proposed cafe restaurant will not materially harm the primary shopping function, vitality and viability of the town centre.
“Although there are a number of public houses within the town centre, there are very few restaurants and not many cafes.”
Planning committee chairman Cllr Frank Harrison disputed the claim, saying there are a number of cafes and tearooms nearby.
Councillors also wondered if there was another motive behind the proposal.
Cllr Tim Raw said: “Il Palazzo is up for sale. I think his plan is to move down there.”
Cllr Blissett added: “I find that rather strange.”
Il Palazzo, in Galgate, is on the market for £750,000 or available on an annual lease of £40,000.
The change of use application includes a request to open the restaurant in Market Place between 9am and 11pm from Monday to Saturday and from 11am to 11pm on Sundays.
The committee agreed to object to the proposal on the basis that the town would lose retail space. Durham County Council will make the final decision.
Mr Alley was unavailable for comment.
