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Pub's outdoor plan rejected
A pub landlord who wants to help create a cafe culture has spoken out after he was banned from having tables outside because of health and safety.
Pat Anderson, of the Peacock pub in Lower Street, Kettering, applied for a pavement licence so he could have tables and chairs outside the pub.
But Northamptonshire County Council has turned down the application on the grounds that vehicles could pose a danger – despite the fact that the road is meant to be pedestrianised during the day.
Mr Anderson said he had the backing of Kettering Council because of the council's hopes of creating more of a cafe culture in the town.
He said: "This is the kind of thing the town needs, especially in this area.
"No one from the county council came to speak to me or to look at what we want to do.
"They say it is encroaching on the highway, but it's meant to be pedestrianised anyway.
"It's one way of helping the town compete with the likes of Corby town centre where they have coffee bars and a cafe culture.
"Having people sitting outside drinking a coffee or having a meal might start encouraging more people to come into town.
"I think the borough council is gobsmacked."
A spokesperson from Northamptonshire County Council said: "Unfortunately their application for a licence has been refused because there is not sufficient pavement space.
"Although this route is partially pedestrianised, vehicles do still use it and allowing furniture on the pavement would mean pedestrians would be forced off the pavement, and into a parking and unloading area.
"Our first priority is always safety and so we will only grant pavement licenses where the safety of road users and pedestrians is not compromised."
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Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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