Costa Coffee is "the last thing Burnham needs" (From This is The West Country)

Costa Coffee is "the last thing Burnham needs"

11:30am Thursday 17th January 2013 in News By Matthew Colledge

THE conversion of a prominent building in Burnham High Street into a Costa Coffee is a step closer – despite claims it is the “last thing” the town needs.

South West Coffee Ltd has already won permission to turn the former Sanders fruit and veg shop, at the junction with Adam Street, into a Costa.

And, last week, it got the nod for revised proposals, which include an area of outdoor seating.

Not everybody is happy, however.

Two letters of objection were penned by Burnham people to Sedgemoor District Council, the planning authority.

One said: “It’s distressing to see the amount of small independent retailers that have gone by the wayside in this town.

“The last thing Burnham needs is another coffee shop, particularly one of the industry giants to make the local independents’ life even harder.”

The other said: “It’s a shame that yet another corporate giant enters a small community and stamps on everybody in its path.”

When news of Costa’s plans for Burnham first surfaced last summer, several traders also raised concerns about the number of food and drink retailers already in the town.

However, Costa says research has shown that coffee shops attract customers to other local businesses, and that its plans for Burnham would improve the street scene.

In its latest application, it says: “The shopfront has been designed to maintain and enhance the character of the high street.

“It is considered to be an improvement to the existing, due to its more traditional detailing and proportions.”

South West Coffee Ltd anticipates the new coffee shop will create eight full-time and eight part-time jobs.