OWNERS of a healthy eatery in Bournemouth have expressed their frustration at the council after they were slapped with a 28-day notice to remove an area of outside seating.

Pondok Fresh Falafel & Juice have received a letter from BCP Council ordering the abolishment of decking which the café uses for outdoor seating, advising it has been built unlawfully.

The letter comes weeks after a community of vegan restaurants in the Bournemouth Triangle, including Pondok, called for more support from BCP Council.

Manager of Pondok, Aly Samir, said: “I think the council are on top of me because of my opinion.

Bournemouth Echo:

“What is the big deal with the decking? No one’s complained. It’s not causing any problems.

“It leaves enough space on the pavement for prams, wheelchairs, and groups of people walking.”

The eatery applied for a pavement license in October 2021 to provide space for tables outside the front of their premises but built a decking after complaining the pavement was ‘not level’ enough for that purpose.

Aly was advised by BCP council that an additional planning application for the decking would have to submitted. He applied for this, but it was refused.

He said: “They refused my application, so I made an appeal against their decision. Appeals are supposed to take six months. We made it last month and already we’ve been surprised with this letter."

Bournemouth Echo: Pondok cafePondok cafe

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “Officers from the council discovered the premises had installed decking on the highway without consent and that the decking would cause an issue to the public with mobility issues.

“The premises sent in a retrospective planning application as requested by officers. Advice was provided by officers as to the amendments required in order not to cause an obstruction and to ensure that the decking did not affect disabled persons.

“The decking was not altered. The planning application was therefore refused, and the decking does not currently have consent.

Read more: Three vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Bournemouth

“The planning team has not received any planning appeal from this premises for the decking so appropriate enforcement action has now been taken for the decking to be removed from the highway, in the form of an enforcement notice.

“We have tried to resolve this issue at all stages in this matter so that we could support this business but unfortunately these discussions did not progress to address the outstanding matters, leaving enforcement as the only available option.”

In response to the council's comment, the Daily Echo has seen receipt of a planning appeal submitted by Aly to the planning inspectorate.