THE owner of a chain of cafes and bars has vented his frustration over a recent planning application in Christchurch.

Alex Reilley, managing director of Loungers, applied to turn the empty Superbuys store in the High Street into one of the chain’s popular venues last year.

But the council refused the application due to a policy which states there should be no more than 20 per cent non-retail uses in the town, despite a survey carried out in May last year revealing there was already 25 per cent.

Mr Reilley, said despite an appeal already in process, he had given instructions for their application to be resubmitted in light of other recent proposals being given the go ahead.

“It is hugely frustrating”, he said.

“We have requested an informal hearing at the appeal as we want answers on this.”

Earlier last year councillors approved plans for a Pizza Express to move into the premises Crickle Wood were trading from.

And at the beginning of February this year, members of the planning committee also overturned officers’ recommendations to allow Kelly’s Kitchen to move into Jarvis Radio.

Officers had recommended refusal for the application, in spite of the business already existing, because approval would have meant the loss of another retail unit in Christchurch town centre.

But councillors, mindful of an “emerging” core strategy – which suggests a limit of 30 per cent non-retail uses – approved the plans for Kelly’s Kitchen.

Mr Reilley said: “As applicants we feel very discriminated against.

“To be honest the whole situation is a right old mess.

“It is the council tax-payer who will unfortunately end up paying for this should we win our appeal.”

He added: “We want to open in Christchurch and people have told us they want us here.

“The whole community is exactly the demographic that best suits our businesses.

“We will be turning what is now an empty, rundown looking building into a thriving business, which will add to the night time economy.”