Plan for new takeaway in Spon Street sparks traders' fury

[dutchman]

Traders are angry at new plans for Spon Street in Coventry which they fear will see the medieval area become a takeaway haven.



A change-of-use application to transform the old Tin Angel cafe and bar into a new hot food takeaway has been submitted to Coventry City Council.

The building on the corner of Spon Street and Lower Holyhead Road has been empty since the Tin Angel closed in February last year. It would be the fifth takeaway in the Spon Street area if it gets the go-ahead. The applicant intends to open the premises from 8am-4am Monday to Sunday.

Traders would like the venue to open as a cafe or shop during the daytime to bring more shoppers into the area, and are worried that the proposal would lead to the decline in the tone of the street.

Julie Page-Brown, owner of Enigma Hair & Beauty, said in her objection to the council: "As a fellow small business in Spon Street we wholly support other local small businesses.

"However we have in our hands the legacy of a beautiful historic street that is slowly being turned into a takeaway haven.

"The result of this is dirty streets and shops that look closed in the day making it an unattractive and less interesting place for customers to visit."

Welcoming the idea of it becoming a cafe or restaurant, Ms Page-Brown added: "I feel that if permission is granted then a caveat must be put in place to ensure daytime trading and that it is upheld if breached. Also, for all takeaway owners, maybe there should be some fee payable to cover the cost of the nightly clean-up.

"If this is a daytime trading business, then we look forward to welcoming another local business to our community."

Keith Draper objected on behalf of the Spon Street Traders' association on grounds the street should be promoted for specialist shopping and takeaways create litter, spoil the opportunity to improve tourism in Coventry ruin and the environment of the conservation area.

He said: "We should be encouraging more speciality businesses. But another takeaway with the shutters down all day is a step in the wrong direction."

Lapworth Architects said in the application that the change of use will make very little difference to the operation of the site in its city centre location. It will not be adding a use that's not compatible with its location and users of the premises and people in the area will not notice any change.

[dutchman]

A controversial plan to allow a new cafe to sell hot takeaway food is set to be given the green light this week.

Officials have recommended councillors grant permission to the proposal from Cafe Caprese, which opened in the former Tin Angel, on the corner of Spon Street and Lower Holyhead Road, last month.

Traders spoke out against the application when it was first submitted saying they did not want any more takeaways blighting medieval Spon Street.

And despite the venue since opening up as an Italian cafe, Keith Draper, chairman of the Spon Street and Lower Holyhead Road Traders’ Association, said there were still concerns it would end up serving takeaway food until the early hours of the morning.

He said traders have felt cheated in the past after businesses have opened as daytime cafes only to later apply for permission for takeaway usage and subsequently close during the day.

He claimed the rise in late-night takeaways has increased litter and anti-social behaviour in what is an important historical street in the city.

Mr Draper said: “After past experience we are now extremely suspicious over any businesses which want hot food takeaways.

“We back the daytime activities which have already opened and we support what the proprietor is doing at the moment.

“But we are against any more hot food takeaways being agreed for Spon Street.”

Although the application for a change of use to hot takeaways is for a 4am closure, representatives for the cafe say the plan is only to offer the service until the late evening.

Mike Kalam, a director at Lapworth Architects, representing the applicants, said: “I can confirm that it is the client’s intention to have a takeaway facility which could serve until late evening.

“The establishment has proven to be a hit with locals and the proposals allow the business to remain competitive by providing the takeaway option.

“In the current economic climate it is vital for all businesses to remain competitive and for popular restaurants a takeaway option is a natural choice.”

Cafe Caprese was opened last month and sells light Italian meals, cupcakes and desserts.

Councillors will meet on Thursday at 2pm to discuss the application.

In his report recommending they grant permission, planning officer Rowan Reid said: “In spite of the weight of objection that has been received, the proposed takeaway use is considered to be an acceptable extension of the existing permitted use of the premises, compatible with the social and leisure focus in the area, without introducing any alterations to the building.”