Well supported Bideford cafe’s canopy can stay

A wooden café canopy on Bideford Quay will be allowed to stay after 230 people wrote letters to planners to support it.

Historic England said the timber and plastic structure over an outdoor seated area at Quay 22, which had been erected during covid so people could socially distance, had a harmful effect on listed buildings at Prospect Place.

Planning officers were of the same view, as were 15 people who wrote to Torridge District Council to object, but there was much support in the community.

Supporters said the 7.8m x 5.3m canopy attracted holidaymakers and it ‘looked fabulous and was well kept,’ with hanging baskets in the summer and decorations at Christmas.

“There are still many people that prefer to have the choice of sitting outside because of the coronavirus and this has given the public the choice,” said one of the 231 letters of support.

Cllr Doug Bushby (Ind, Bideford North) said: “I think it provides a service for the residents and visitors alike. It is a meeting place. Since it was put up in covid times, people have gathered there and it has been very well received. For anyone who has mobility issues, they can just sit at a table; they don’t even have to go inside the café.

“I personally think it adds to the street scene. You see things like this all over the continent. It should be encouraged.”

He said the property behind it might be grade II-listed, but next door but one there was a 1970s’ building with aluminium window frames and the ground the canopy stood on, owned by Torridge District Council, is paved with modern brick.

Cllr Peter Hames (Green, Appledore), one of two councillors who voted against retaining the canopy, said the structure was only meant to be temporary and there was no evidence that removing it would affect the viability of the business.

“It was a difficult decision, but there were strong objections from Historic England about the impact on the historic building,” he said.

Historic England said Prospect Place was probably built by the Bideford Bridge Trust in the 1690s, and Quay Street is a prominent and important street in Bideford’s conservation area.

It said that views of the building would be interrupted by the canopy and the setting of other listed buildings on the quay would also be harmed.

Torridge District Council initially gave permission for the structure to stay for two years with its use restricted between 9am and 5pm.

Councillors agreed the canopy could stay, on condition that the premises continues to be used as a cafe.