Shopmobility boss fears outdoor seating will create hazards
Plans to get Paisley and the rest of Renfrewshire’s towns “thriving” need to be taken forward using “common sense”amid fears pavements could become hazardous for people with disabilities.
A change to the law that will mean businesses such as cafes, pubs, and restaurants will no longer need to apply for planning permission to put outdoor seating and other furniture outside their venues.
The Paisley Daily Express reported last week how the new law, announced by Renfrewshire South MSP, Tom Arthur would be coming into effect at the end of March.
“While we obviously welcome anything that boosts trade in our town centres we do have some concerns regarding access for people with disability issues,” said Karen Miller, office manager of Shopmobility Paisley and District.
Councils will still have powers to intervene if they deem the furniture to be dangerous or prevent people using the pavements.
Karen raised the issue of blind people using the pavements and called on businesses and the council to be sensible.
“As long as there are sensible precautions to make sure people on mobility scooters and wheelchairs can pass on the pavements affected, and that there is reasonable precautions for people with sight problems then there shouldn’t be a problem.
“We would support anything that helps to boost businesses in our town and village centres but some common sense needs to be applied,” she added.
Amit Biswas, the owner of Nomads’ Coffee welcomed the news, he said it “will definitely have a positive effect on our business.”
He continued: “People want to sit inside in the summer, some people smoke, if you can have a seating area out there, it’s amazing.”
Amit knows the difference it will make because he has had direct experience.
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, regulations regarding outdoor seating areas were relaxed to allow for better social distancing. Amit had a seating area outside, and he says it was well-used.
However, since the end of the temporary relaxation of rules, he’s not had seating outside, saying the planning application is too expensive.
He added: “The way I see it, Paisley, at the moment, is dead, it needs to be regenerated, people are going away from Paisley, when they need to be coming here. Hopefully this will help.”
Nomads’ Coffee is situated on High Street opposite Paisley Museum and Art Gallery, which has been closed for refurbishment now for some years and, with an end date not yet in sight, Amit says it’s affecting footfall at his business.
“If businesses and facilities like this close it does have an impact. We need businesses to thrive here, it’s key.”
Another business that might benefit is the Howwood Inn, which had a planning application for an outdoor terrace knocked back by the council last year.
Bob Grant, chief executive of Renfrewshire Chamber, said: “Encouraging our hospitality venues to take advantage of outdoor space and enhance their offering is a good example of listening to our business community and the requests of customers.
“The sector has significant headwinds, and we warmly welcome this initiative to reduce planning restrictions and speed up the application process.
“We also welcome the relaxation to convert premises into cafes, restaurants, or small-scale offices as a change of use, an additional measure which may play a small part in breathing new life into our town centres.”