ANOTHER coffee shop in Christchurch is not the worst outcome, according to a member of the council's town centre working group.

Councillor Colin Bungey said despite the town already having many cafes, plans for another are favourable compared to the unit staying empty or becoming a charity shop.

As reported by the Daily Echo, proposals to open Coffee #1 in the former Shoe Zone premises on High Street have been met with opposition by one coffee shop proprietor in the town.

Mike Ismail, who runs Baggies, has set up a petition protesting against the plans, which have been submitted to Christchurch Borough Council.

He said there are enough food outlets in the town and several businesses are currently up for sale.

Councillor Bungey said there is a sufficient number of coffee shops already, but added "we would rather have a coffee shop than a charity shop".

"A coffee shop will be paying council tax and business rates, where as a charity shop does not," he said. "It does concern me that we have so many coffee shops and it would be nice to see more shops in the town that provide something unique. "It is a struggle in business to survive in this day and age with online shopping.

"I'm sure if this new coffee shop does open people go there because they will want to experience it and see if it is something they like."

Recent months have proved to be extremely turbulent for the national High Street scene, with several firms going out of business or reducing their store numbers.

However, Cllr Bungey, who is part of a town centre working group which meets to discuss ongoing issues, said Christchurch was coping well overall.

"I think considering what we read about and see on television with store closures, we have not been hit too badly in Christchurch," he added.

"In a way this is because we do not have that many major outlets in the town."