Cafe society - boon or bane?
By ALGrace | Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 15:42
When Costa Coffee opened in Exmouth’s Magnolia Centre last month, it met with concerns from some locals about tables and chairs outside the café getting in the way of people walking through the centre.
This week, the Town Planning Council will meet to decide on the best way forward for the future of any café society in the Magnolia Centre.
Town planners backed planning approval for Costa Coffee last month – but asked for tables and chairs to be limited.
Planning Chairman Lynne Elson said the chairs and tables at Costa Coffee were licensed by Devon County Council Highways.
She added: “The Town Planning Council isn’t against having these chairs and tables out, but we need to find a way forward that satisfies local traders and pedestrians.
“In Exmouth we have a lot of elderly relatives and as people are dashing in and out of Costa Coffee, and moving their chairs and tables, it causes a hazard for some pedestrians.”
Town centre manager, Tony Collins, said there had been some complaints, but the increased traffic that came as a result of Costa’s opening had had a positive impact on the trading of Boots, opposite.
Three Exmouth Community College sixth formers commented that the presence of a brand like Costa, offering somewhere to sit in the sunshine and fresh air, encourages them to stay in town rather than going in to Exeter.
ExmouthPeople.co.uk is a community-led website. Do you think the Magnolia Centre is too busy already to have tables and chairs outside or is it a small price to pay for drawing people into the town centre? Share your views – join now and participate in the debate!
Comments
In most towns the coffee bars and cafes with outside seating have smart railings around the seating area and I have never seen chairs and tables moved outside these, so as well as looking smart they provide a clearly defined area. There are several outside seating areas around cafes in Exeter City, on the quayside and around the Cathederal for example, and they don't seem to cause a problem - people soon seem to get used to them. I have taken advantage of a coffee in the sunshine many times - it is so nice to be able to sit and watch the world go by.!
By Chrissy4547 at 22:42 on 22/07/09
ReportI think it will encourage people, especially young people, to stay in Exmouth rather than go into Exeter. It's nice to have a recognisable brand name, just like having Prezzo there. From what I know of the local competitors, most feel certain that their regulars will stay loyal and Costa will just attract new customers. If local cafes have to raise their game, is that a bad thing?
By blackandblue1 at 21:55 on 22/07/09
ReportSmokers need a place to be able to smoke and have a coffee. They've already been chased out all establishments. The tables and chairs have to stay.
By INLUMINO at 18:45 on 17/07/09
ReportThe Bay Fm News team ran public interviews to find out what Exmouth people thought of a large Coffee chain coming to Exmouth? The replies were mainly against it as Exmouth already had a nice selection of coffee shops to choose from and a large chain was bad news for these local smaller business firms. Having said that seated areas outside of these premises are a nice touch I think because when the sun is shining people will take a break and enjoy Exmouth. If planning was granted then the solution now needs to be centred around how to accomodate a free unobstructed walkway for the public and a seated area for Costa Coffee. I guess the only way to do that is limit the number of table and chairs that are outside.
By soulman1 at 20:29 on 15/07/09
Report