A NATIONAL coffee chain’s application to change a Minehead retail unit into a cafe has prompted objections from individuals and businesses in the town.

Costa has applied to change 2 Wellington Square, the old Blockbuster premises, into a coffee shop, including an area of seating outside.

A covering letter submitted by Savills, acting on behalf of the chain, justified the application by saying: “Costa outlets are proven to generate high levels of footfall.

“In a climate where high street retailers are reducing in number due to administration and poor trading conditions, the prospect of an active and vibrant user such as Costa should be welcomed.”

But existing businesses in the town centre disagree and a number of them have started a petition against the proposals.

Shirley Parfitt, who runs Butterflies cafe just three doors down with her sister Gillian Winzer, said: “We just feel that Minehead is much too small a town for this and is already overcrowded with cafes and restaurants.

“We are not averse to a bit of competition – we have plenty already – but I don’t know how much more we can take.

“The Wetherspoon pub which came in the last couple of years has definitely affected our trade, especially at breakfast time – it will just be another knock for small businesses like ours. It’s already a hard time with people spending less money and not coming out as much.

“We have been here seven years but it has been a cafe for as long as I can remember.

“There is a lot of negative feeling about it – even our customers have voiced that to us.”

Minehead Conservation Society chairman Sally Bainbridge has also formallyobjected to the application.

She said: “Our society considers that Costa’s presence in this particular store could only be a bad thing for the town.

“Far from bringing new jobs to the town, it is likely to send other independent businesses to the wall, thus creating a loss of jobs. If people do not come to Minehead now with its 28-plus cafes and restaurants, we cannot believe that Costa will make any difference.

“A premises in this position should be used to sell items that are necessary for daily living, or products that create cultural and creative interest for tourists and residents.

“The proliferation of eating and drinking places is sapping the life and vibrancy out of our town centres.

“Towns reliant on tourism will attract people into shops selling a diverse range of goods. People on holiday have time to look and spend and they do not come to sightsee supermarkets and coffee shops.”

To view the application and support or object against it, visit www.westsomerset.gov.uk/onlineapplications and enter the reference 3/21/13/051 or pop into the town centre cafes to sign the petition against proposals.