Cafe wins battle over pergola bid
YEAR-LONG WAIT FOR OWNERS AS REFUSAL OVERRULED
A LONG-RUNNING planning row over a popular Northumberland cafe has finally ended a year after the plans were first submitted.
A packed-out council chamber at County Hall in Morpeth applauded the decision of councillors to overrule county council planners and approve the plans for Tea in the Paddock’s expansion.
Una Young, owner of the much-loved Choppington cafe, had applied for permission to erect a pergola-style covered terrace in order to provide outdoor seating at the site.
But despite significant backing from the local community – 186 sent letters of support to the council, while almost 4,000 signed a petition calling on the authority to grant permission – council planners had recommended the plans be refused.
Officers argued that the site was in the greenbelt, and would not bring any benefits that would outweigh the damage caused to greenfield land by its construction.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Council, Coun Mary Murphy, who represents the Choppington ward, defended the plans. She said: “My ward is made up of small villages nestled between larger towns which attract funding we’re not eligible for.
“We are one of the only wards in Northumberland with no cycle lanes, we won’t benefit from the expansion of rail services in the south east, and we aren’t eligible for borderlands funding.
“Tea in the Paddock is an essential business without which Choppington would be even more impoverished.”
Coun Murphy also argued that the development would help bring tourists to the area and create employment.
The deputy leader of the council, Coun Richard Wearmouth, proposed approving the application while council leader Glen Sanderson said it was “important to have this type of business”.
The application was unanimously approved.