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Costa Coffee's Museum Street outdoor area plan turned down (From York Press)
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Costa Coffee's Museum Street outdoor area plan turned down
8:46am Friday 30th July 2010
RIVAL coffee chains have been given mixed news by planners in their attempts to set up pavement cafes in the centre of York.
Proposals by Costa Coffee to start an outdoor area for customers at its new outlet in Museum Street have been turned down by City of York Council.
But its competitor Starbucks has won approval from the authority to continue operating a pavement café at its shop in one of the city’s busiest shopping zones, meaning it can now stay open for another three years.
Costa took over the Museum Street building following the closure of the Threshers Wine Merchants off-licence and is now looking to redevelop the site after gaining permission for the new shop earlier this month.
The chain’s plans include fitting a new door in Lendal to improve wheelchair access.
The company also wanted to place three tables and ten chairs outside the shop in Lendal, but planners rejected the proposal because they said it would not leave pedestrians with enough space to get past.
“The reduced width of the Lendal footway would be likely to force pedestrians into the adjacent carriageway, which represents a road safety hazard,” said a council report outlining the reasons for the refusal.
“This hazard would be particularly acute for vulnerable pedestrians such as people with pushchairs and the mobility and visually-impaired.”
Officers also said the pavement café would create unwanted street clutter and “fail to preserve the setting of the adjacent listed buildings”.
Meanwhile, Starbucks can now keep its own café, which sits on New Street and has eight tables and 32 chairs, running until August 2013.
It comes after the firm was told earlier this month that it must remove its kiosk at York Station, following a planning inspector’s ruling that it spoiled the character of the historic building.
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Your Say YourPress
John S Brook, York says...
9:29am Fri 30 Jul 10
My heart sinks at the prospect of yet another stereotype, over-priced coffee outlet in the city.
Woody Mellor, Ye Olde Citee of Yorke says...
9:52am Fri 30 Jul 10
Woody Mellor, Ye Olde Citee of Yorke says...
9:54am Fri 30 Jul 10
billy shears, york says...
10:15am Fri 30 Jul 10
spiritofyork wrote:If you cant see what COYC's issue is with this outdoor seating, try reading the article. The footpath is not wide enough to accomodate seating. Simple as that.
I don't really see what CoYc's issue is with outdoor seating. First they dictate that all tables and chairs must be packed away by 8...ramming people inside and now they refuse anything that might be seen to be normal anywhere else in the world. The UK does many things, but comparison to others places; cafe culture and outdoor seating it does not.
hifive, says...
12:10pm Fri 30 Jul 10
John S Brook wrote:Totally agree. I'm not against outdoor seating but it has to be in a suitable location! At the proposed site there are people going down lendal either way, crossing museum street either way and heading down museum street either way. It's difficult enough as it is and I often get stuck in "people traffic" at that corner. Stupid idea. And yes - it's depressing that yet another generic coffee giant is opening but I guess independent businesses can't afford the rates....
I think the Council is quite right to refuse this one. That section of pavement on the corner of Lendal is very busy and there is often a crowd waiting to cross Museum Street. I can't imagine it would've been pleasant for the people sitting having coffee to have a constant stream of people pushing past. My heart sinks at the prospect of yet another stereotype, over-priced coffee outlet in the city.
sheps lad, york says...
4:04pm Fri 30 Jul 10
Woody Mellor, Ye Olde Citee of Yorke says...
4:28pm Fri 30 Jul 10
sheps lad wrote:I see what your saying about the Betty's customers, and personally I like Betty's but always use the little one on Stone Gate. But in the window seats at big Betty's why do they have such stern and glum faces whilst they are sat there? :o(
Dunno about the coffee but the people who visit these places are like those that queue to get into Betty's so they can be seen sitting in the window. Sad souls!!
Brizo J, York says...
4:41pm Fri 30 Jul 10
Woody Mellor, Ye Olde Citee of Yorke says...
4:51pm Fri 30 Jul 10
Brizo J wrote:If a mixture of history and coffee shops brings in droves of tourists with wads of cash to spend, then so be it!
Just what York wants, another coffee shop!!!!
hifive, says...
4:58pm Fri 30 Jul 10
Woody Mellor wrote:Because they just realised they have to re-mortgage their house in order to pay for their scone!
sheps lad wrote: Dunno about the coffee but the people who visit these places are like those that queue to get into Betty's so they can be seen sitting in the window. Sad souls!!I see what your saying about the Betty's customers, and personally I like Betty's but always use the little one on Stone Gate. But in the window seats at big Betty's why do they have such stern and glum faces whilst they are sat there? :o(
Woody Mellor, Ye Olde Citee of Yorke says...
5:21pm Fri 30 Jul 10
hifive wrote::o)
Woody Mellor wrote:Because they just realised they have to re-mortgage their house in order to pay for their scone!
sheps lad wrote: Dunno about the coffee but the people who visit these places are like those that queue to get into Betty's so they can be seen sitting in the window. Sad souls!!I see what your saying about the Betty's customers, and personally I like Betty's but always use the little one on Stone Gate. But in the window seats at big Betty's why do they have such stern and glum faces whilst they are sat there? :o(
Mullarkian, York says...
5:49pm Fri 30 Jul 10
King Edward, Taterville says...
8:52pm Fri 30 Jul 10
Jennyfromtheblock, York says...
6:56pm Sat 31 Jul 10
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spiritofyork, york says...
9:16am Fri 30 Jul 10