THERE are concerns that a popular park cafe could be replaced by a Costa or Starbucks after its contract was put out to competition.

As the Daily Echo reported on Monday, Hamworthy Park cafe is set to be put up for tender ahead of the current lease ending in April 2019.

Borough of Poole has asked for potential operators to get in touch with ideas on how to improve either the existing cafe or provide a new one.

Following the news readers have expressed their concerns about the plans - especially as they worry it may be taken over by a large international corporation.

Commenting on Facebook, Megan Southey said: "Great. They'll turn it into some high end - meaning expensive - coffee chain that no one needs or wants, instead of the nice little cafe that you can just get a cup of tea and bag of crisps, chips if you so wish, and an ice cream."

Meanwhile Angie Ridland, Richard Hanney and Sharon Vincent all suggested that the cafe would be "turned into a Costa or Starbucks".

And Katie Wheeler urged the council to keep the cafe as it is. She said: "That is someone's livelihood. And they will replace it with a massive well-known expensive place that not many families could afford. This is ridiculous. This cafe is amazing. Friendly staff and a place they most likely see as a second home."

It wouldn't be the first time that a popular and successful local cafe was taken over by a large multinational firm.

In April this year the Highcliffe Castle Tearooms was taken over by US catering giant Aramark, which provides prison food and school meals.

Local businessman Sean Kearney had held the lease for the past 17 years, but following a tendering process the tearooms were handed over to Aramark.

The decision was labelled a “slap in the face” for local businesses.

A spokesman from Borough of Poole said the tender process would be open to any operator wishing to put forward a bid - including multinational chains.

Friends of Hamworthy Park has said it would be backing current owner, Michael Clarke, who took over the cafe three years ago.

Borough of Poole is hosting an event at Upton House on Tuesday, June 13 to give interested parties an opportunity to ask questions about the site and future procurement process before a formal tender process begins at a later date.