Exclusive by Alan Quick
DOES Crediton really need another coffee shop?
That is the question being posed after details of plans for a Costa Coffee shop and cafe was made public this week.
East Devon-based coffee shop franchise Jurassic Coast Coffee Ltd has submitted plans with the planning authority, Mid Devon District Council, for a mixed use shop and cafe on the ground floor at 28 High Street, Crediton.
The application submitted by Walsingham Planning of Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, on behalf of the client, includes associated internal and external alterations to the former High Street Saver shop and toilets on the first floor of three-storey building. Two air conditioning units will also be installed.
In addition, a further application has been submitted for advertisement consent to display one externally illuminated fascia sign and one externally illuminated hanging sign (16/01595/ADVERT).
MDDC planning officer Simon Trafford has written to businesses in the vicinity to advise them of the plans and explains to them that other details are available for inspection at MDDC offices at Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton.
Mr Trafford says the application (16/01594/FULL) can be accessed online via the council’s view and track planning application service, which is located on the website: www.middevon.gov.uk , under planning.
The Tiverton office is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4.30pm on Friday.
COMMENTS
The public is invited to make comments regarding the application and these must be made in writing to the Head of Planning and Regeneration at the above address, or by email to: [email protected] or online via Public Access on the council website using “Make a Comment”.
Comments should reach the Head of Planning no later than November 4.
Jurassic Coast Coffee Ltd, run by managing director James Witty, already operates Costa Coffee franchises in locations across Devon and Dorset, including Sidmouth, Lyme Regis, Honiton, Torquay, Tiverton and Teignmouth.
The head office for Jurassic Coast Coffee Ltd is in Sidmouth.
NEW JOBS
Five new full-time jobs, including barista and managerial positions, are to be created, along with five part-time jobs.
The Crediton Costa Coffee will open from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 5pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
There would be no cooking facilities at the coffee shop, though the agents say some sandwiches will be toasted on request.
It adds that all sandwiches and cakes are prepared and packaged off-site and would be delivered to the unit each morning.
Walsingham Planning say that the new coffee shop “would support the function of Crediton Town Centre by sustaining and enhancing its vitality and viability, which is the objective of local and national policies, and would be suitable in all other respects.”
The High Street Saver shop closed more than a month ago and has been vacant since that time.
Costa Coffee is a British multi-national coffeehouse company which has headquarters in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Whitbread.
It is the second largest coffeehouse chain in the world behind Starbucks and the largest in Britain.
Costa Coffee was founded in London in 1971 by the Costa family as a wholesale operation supplying roasted coffee to caterers and specialist Italian coffee shops.
Acquired by Whitbread in 1995, it has since grown to more than 3,277 stores across 31 countries.
The business has 2,000 UK restaurants, more than 5,200 Costa Express vending facilities and a further 1,200 outlets overseas (including 383 in China).
OUTRAGE
Commenting on “Facebook”, Emily Morgan said: “Do we honestly want another coffee shop in Crediton?
“We have some lovely independent cafes and coffee shops here already, working hard for us, supplying sustainably-sourced and Fairtrade hot drinks.
“Making us like every other town, honestly, stamps foot in outrage and distaste!”
Helen Clarke added: “I don’t think we need another coffee shop, especially a chain.”
Elizabeth Ransom added: “I won’t be going in the chain coffee shop if it happens. I really like the ones we have here now.”
Kate Carter said: “Nice wine bar is what Crediton is crying out for…No more coffee shops!”
• What do you think of plans for a Costa Coffee in Crediton?
Share your views with fellow “Courier” readers. Write a letter, suitable for publication, to: The Editorial Manager, “Crediton Courier”, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF.
Alternatively, send an email, with your contact details, to: [email protected] .