More opposition to Costa Coffee plans for town centre
OPPOSITION to plans for a new Costa Coffee shop in Bingham is growing.
More than 1,400 people have signed a petition against the plan for Eton Place in little over a week since the coffee chain applied to Rushcliffe Borough Council for planning permission.
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Costa Coffee
Petition organisers expect to receive even more signatures before the consultation deadline on November 29.
Bingham East borough councillor George Davidson said he was fully behind the protests.
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He said: "I'm concerned about the growth of these large chains.
"There are some great independent retailers who will suffer."
He added: "I did want to see a new tenancy placed where the gap is in the precinct, but certainly not another multinational coffee chain."
Costa wants to open the new café, including outside seating, in Eton Place. Three full-time and five part-time jobs would be created.
Julia Williams, who runs the nearby Picture Café coffee house, started the petition.
She said: "I know a local fish and chip shop hoped to open a new restaurant in the space and there was also an offer for a new deli. I'd have much rather have seen those in place instead of a Costa Coffee. Inevitably, us smaller stores will suffer."
The building, most recently an Oddbins off-licence, has been empty for two years. It has retail planning consent but has never been used as a cafe.
Costa wants to change its use from A1 retail space to an A3 space, which allows for a café or restaurant.
Councillor Francis Purdue-Horan, who represents Bingham on Rushcliffe Borough Council, said: "We want to have a vibrant diverse town centre. I am personally not fussed if it's granted a local or national rental space but I want the right commercial activity in the town."
He added: "I don't want Bingham to be the Rushcliffe coffee capital."
The council says it is consulting on the plans until November 29, with a view to a decision being made in December.
A Costa Coffee spokesman previously told the Post: "We honestly do not think that anyone should see Costa as a threat to independent businesses.
"Our offering is very different to local independent coffee shops and we believe that people can and will use both, depending on their needs."
Comments
by Friartuck123
Sunday, November 11 2012, 9:57AM
“What is wrong with healthy competition between different outlets offering similar services so that the customer is able to choose which is the best place to spend their money?
This will drive up quality and encourage the various coffee shops to devise more "unique selling points" to entice more customers into their shop.
I would much rather have three similar shops that are going out of their way to earn my customer than have one shop that doesn't give a monkeys as there is no alternative.”
by SteveBasford
Saturday, November 10 2012, 11:21AM
“Yet more faffing around with the market. It's the councils job to determine if its a suitable use for a building, NOT to consider competition matters, well, it shouldn't be anyway.
I wonder what the "independents" have to fear, is their coffee not as good?”
by BethWillliams
Friday, November 09 2012, 8:16PM
“What has happened to the new Tesco supermarket that was supposed to be opening in Bingham?”
by smshogun
Friday, November 09 2012, 7:17PM
“Costa are franchised outlets so you could argue the franchisee will be a local resident and the additional staff will be local unemployed people.”
by Local Lad
Friday, November 09 2012, 5:59PM
“Why not let one of the following move in Mcdonalds,Burger King,Pizza Hut,Starbucks. I would defo visit Bingham then!”
by TanyaLouise11
Friday, November 09 2012, 3:33PM
“I personally think that Bingham has always been missing a Costa. Just think of all of those lovely loyalty points.
I think that BinghamResi just needs to embrace it, and welcome it with open arms.
But why would you want a clothes shop in Bingham, when you think it's all going online???”
by joemarshalljm
Friday, November 09 2012, 3:18PM
“This bloke BinghamResi is clearly an idiot! I think we should kick him out of Bingham. Who will join me, my fellow Binghamites?!”
by BinghamResi
Friday, November 09 2012, 2:16PM
“There may be a gap, but I don't have the capital to open one and wouldn't as everything's going online! E-commerce is where it is heading!
What I'm saying is, there needs to be a balance between local and national businesses and there also doesn't need to be any more coffee shops, hair dressers, takeaways or charities!”
by DunkirkPie
Friday, November 09 2012, 1:42PM
“It's easy to pontificate. Why don't you open a clothes shop if there's such a gap in the market?”
by BinghamResi
Friday, November 09 2012, 1:14PM
“Right, lets get this straight!
I live in Bingham, It's good to see big companies investing in the local area like Gregg's, Boots Sainsburys, Costa, Wetherspoon's etc. With any business coming in its going to have an impact on existing local business.
It is fairto say that there are already plenty of coffee shops; metro & picture cafe, piano et already in bingham so partially i agree, why do we need another. Yet, why would we want another chip shop? there are TWO in walking distance of this proposed site.
I glad it doesn't say hair dressers as this need capping by the local council. I think I last counted at least 10 in a square mile. Seriously!!
What Bingham really needs is either a clothes shop, (I cannot buy clothes anywhere in Bingham apart from charity shops), or a Wilkinsons for example.
No more coffee places, no more charity shops, no more carpet shops, no more hairdressers, no more takeaways.
The local council need to listen and think properly for the future!”