Remove rules that block cafe culture
CONFUSING planning procedures and town centre traffic issues are making Kettering less attractive for cafe businesses, a council fears.
In a new report, Kettering Council has outlined its vision for a cafe culture with streets full of people eating or drinking outdoors in the town centre.
But the council has admitted that the confusing three-stage planning application for businesses to put chairs and tables outside, including getting a pavement license, is off-putting.
There are also concerns about the volume of traffic on Lower Street and Gold Street.
Town centre regeneration programme manager Paul Thomas said: “Having chairs and tables outside is a massive selling point not only for potential businesses but existing ones who want to expand.
“The county council need to ensure that, by allowing tables and chairs outside premises in the town centre, pedestrians are not put at risk from passing vehicles.
“This, of course, comes back to the issue of the amount of traffic that currently uses Gold Street, High Street and Lower Street.”
The report reveals officials are working on simplifying the planning procedure, which includes getting licensing and planning approval from Kettering Council, and a pavement licence from the county council.
Costa Coffee in Kettering had looked to add an outdoor area to its cafe, but its management have found a sticking point with the extent of traffic on the street.
Costa’s Northamptonshire franchisee Hoosein Dadabhoy, said: “We’ve been frustrated because I think an extension will really foster a cafe culture.”
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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Comments
There are 10 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
hibb72
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 07:18 AMI think that Kettering town centre has already died a death, mainly due to the sort of shops that have been allowed to open there of late. I visited Kettering last week, and could not believe the lack of decent shops. The place is saturated with charity shops and empty units with the occasional worthwhile shop dotted in between. Even the Newlands centre is disappointing - Poundland, 99p Store and Home Bargains in close proximity to each other. Not sure that three such similar shops are really needed in one small shopping centre. If Kettering Council are indeed making it difficult for any potential new businesses (cafes or shops) with their rules and regulations, then maybe it is time that they changed their ways.
amron99
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 02:12 AMWith all the negativity on here no wonder Kettering has gone to the dogs. Usually towns have one particular area for cafes where there is not much traffic, surely the old market square would be a great idea.
Bruno
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 11:22 PMOoh tables and chairs outside Kettering establishments. That will be nice for the many homeless that frequent the doorways of these establishments. Give them something to sit on. Maybe the council could sort out its homeless community before worrying about people needing to sit alfresco with their coffee. I have actually never known any council to be run by such a bunch of idiots. I reckon they should headhunt Chris Mallender from CEO of Corby Borough Council to come and run Kettering Council for a couple of years. He would make more headway than these idiots have in the last 10 yrs of messing around with Kettering town planning.
il Capitano
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 10:24 PMthe problem is that you cant sit outside in the UK for most of the time as its too cold, wet or windy. in italy for example you can sit outside all day all summer with a coffee watching the birds walk by. london is full of europeans hence you may get some people trying to sit outside. covent garden is the closest thing you get to people sitting outside. ive been there during august and it was nice but it was freezing! My main point was that kettering town centre is NOT a place to sit outside in and be all sophisticated. Theres nothing in town to tempt those kinds of people to visit. maybe get that sorted out first and THEN worry about trying to get a few tables outside.
DMT48
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 06:17 PMDon't move the goalposts, Il Capitano. You compared British towns with Med seaside towns,and I compared European towns with Med seaside towns. Now you want to compare them on a historic basis? Well two can play at that game - most Med cafe culture towns have zero history except as fishing village or points of entry for invaders! There is cafe culture in London...or at least there was last time I was there. Even the tiniest sandwich bars in the back streets with narrow pavements, still managed to stick a few tables and chairs outside! Why do people seem to have some innate objection to it anyway? What's the problem?
enemde
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 05:41 PMParis is covered in dog mess and Amsterdam is known for its drug culture-maybe Kettering has more in common with them than you think!
il Capitano
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 04:52 PMAre you comparing kettering to those two big historic and interesting cities? perhaps kettering could do with some amsterdam-style 'cafes' mind you! :D The UK isnt renowned for cafe culture....not even in london. So lets stick to beer gardens.
DMT48
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 04:28 PMParis and Amsterdam are not coastal Mediterranean towns either!
il Capitano
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 02:35 PMThere is a whole pedestrian free market square with units sitting empty for this so why is gold st being looked at? who the hell would sit outside in kettering town centre anyway? its not a coastal Mediterranean town. where do these people get these ideas from and how do these people get such high paid jobs? regeneration manager - hahaha.
DMT48
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 01:00 PMROFL. Where would councils be without a long list of petty rules and regulations to enforce? I see someone was told off by a council this week for daring to tidy up the verge outside their house - they didn't have the right license. This country is doomed if we can't shake off this attitude.
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