Coffee shop plan sparks row with cafe next door

4:00pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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A CHARITY that supplies furniture to the needy has fallen foul of New Forest planning officers after it set up a cafe in New Milton high street.

Dorcas New Forest closed its donated secondhand furniture and white goods shop in Whitefield Road and opened the cafe-cum-furniture shop in Station Road in April.

Now, following the threat of action from council enforcement officers, Dorcas has applied for planning permission for change of use.

Ian Brook, a Dorcas trustee, said the move was made in the spring.

"At that time the next door shop was vacant and we didn't know it was actually going to be opened up as a cafe," he said.

"Before we moved we went into the planning situation because this is a furniture shop with coffee very much as a sideline and we were told we didn't neeed change of use planning permission."

He stressed Dorcas only sold coffees, teas, cakes and biscuits and did not sell hot food like the neighbouring premises.

"We're not trying to do anyone out of business, we just need money to survive.

"Every little bit of money we can get keeps the van on the road and the warehouse open."

New Forest District Council planning officer Vivienne Baxter said: "I think the policy for café use in that location would boil down to how many food outlet users there are in that parade of shops."

She said people had until September 19 to comment on the application.

Salih Sen, who is known as Charlie, complained to the council about Dorcas. He took over the well-established Taste Buds cafe next door on February 19 and shut it down for a week for a complete refurbishment.

"When I opened it was very busy and a week later Dorcas opened and trade dropped off," he said.

"I do the cheapest food in the whole of England, not just the New Forest, and it's still not improving."

He pointed out that unlike Dorcas he has to pay full rates, VAT and wages.