Lincoln cafe plan leaves councillors in ‘awkward position’

Councillors have raised concerns about a café which is set to open in a residential area.

The new venue on Boultham Park Road in Lincoln doesn’t need a planning application, as it is covered by permission from when it was previously a shoe shop.

However councillors have questioned whether it’s in the right place.

An application for an extraction fan which is close to neighbours’ gardens was approved by a planning committee on Wednesday (April 23).

“This situation doesn’t seem suitable,” Coun Gary Hewson said.

“The area has changed to such an extent, with lots more residential properties.

“This puts us in an awkward position, because we can’t reject this application on its face.”

Coun Calum Watt said: “The fan would be very close to next door.

“My concern is, if I lived there, would it stop me from putting washing out, or sitting in the back garden without (the) fan thundering?”

A previous application for it to become a takeaway, which would be classed as a change of use, was refused.

However a café or restaurant which ‘mostly’ serves food for consumption on the premises doesn’t require this permission due to changes in planning law.

Coun Rebecca Longbottom said she was concerned about the permitted hours for the fan between 8am and 11pm, saying: “I can’t think of any shop that is open that long.”

Committee members were told that the council’s environmental health teams were confident that the fan wouldn’t disturb residents.

They would also be able to take enforcement action if the café transitioned to becoming a takeaway.

The application passed by six votes to three, despite the majority expressing unhappiness with the proposal.