4 January 2008

Grave concerns by traders as New Cafe gets the nod

A planning application for a 'change of use' to a shop on Pool Street was approved on Wednesday even though traders objected in force.

Two local girls plan to open a brand new cafe at the old 'Threshers' premises in the heart of Pool Street.

Local traders took it upon themselves to write with their objections to the application but Gwynedd council were powerless to accept their please due to having to uphold the UK competition law.

A planning application can only be declined for reasons of planning disputes and therefore cannot accept arguments such as, the town already has too much of the same kind of businesses (even if it is indeed the case).

Work to transform the former Off-Licence to a cafe (in a prime location next to Woolworth's) should commence shortly.

Below we have listed the for and against arguments put forward.

Dwr Cymru -No Objections, Highways -No objections, Housing Dept - No objections.

However there were quite a few objections from businesses already established on Pool Street..

Mr Marcus Hughes of  Babs Gwyn told the council:

"As a businessman operating from a premises at Pool Street Caernarfon, Gwynedd it is with some concern that I write to set out my concerns about the possibility of another outlet providing take away food being opened at Pool Street. I am concerned that there are already a great number of outlets open in Pool Street and the surrounding area providing similar services whilst the number of retail units on the street is dwindling. I believe it is detrimental to the town centre that we are losing retail units."

He went on to say:

"From a business point of view there are already many similar outlets at Pool Street that have historically provided take away food. These businesses are struggling as it is to make ends meet, without the introduction of more competition."

Michelle Thomas of Subway said:

"I object to the  change of use as many people could completely by pass Pool Street knowing that there aren't many shops, making Pool Street less of an attraction, creating a reverse effect on what the street and Caernarfon is aiming for.....

New businesses will not consider coming to Pool Street and will look elsewhere if there aren't other shops to help attract people into it".

James Endaf Cooke of J and C's Chippy said:

"As a shop owner in Pool Street I strongly object to the change of use of Threshers Pool Street becoming a food outlet. There are  more than enough food premises in Pool Street and Caernarfon itself. Recently the Blas Cafe and Sandwich proprietor wrote to the Town Council (from whom the shop was leased) to tell them the Cafe and Sandwich bar would be closed down as it is not financially viable with so many other cafes in the area."

He went on to say:

"If the proposal does go ahead my concern is how long will it be before one of the existing nine food outlets in the Pool Street area will close?"

Dafydd Wyn Jones who runs a Butchers shop on Pool Street said:

"At the moment Pool Street is in dire need of more retail units opening to support each other. The small amounts of shops in Caernarfon's main shopping street are going to find it very hard to attract more needed locals and visitors especially from losing a shop in such a prime location."

He added:

"Do the people of Caernarfon need another cafe or another shop?"

Mr V G Cashmore Jones of Timpsons said

"In my view Pool Street needs to bring more people into it, losing a shop to another food outlet is not the answer. There is a great need for a variety of shops in Pool Street which cannot be achieved if the change of use goes ahead. Cafes will not bring more people into the street, Shops will."

No involvement by the Chamber of Trade

Neither Bob Anderson nor representatives of the Chamber of Trade were present at the meeting and we were told that they were not involved in any of the discussions.

None of the businesses we spoke to on Pool Street were members of the Caernarfon Chamber of Trade.

Good News for Next door!

Next door to the new cafe, a new shop has opened which will no doubt please businesses in Pool Street.

A brand new Health and Herbs shop has opened in a prime location. The new shop will provide Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture as well as a variety of Health Foods and Herbs. This will be Pool Street's second Health Shop and offers customers more choice - which is what the town needs.