Businesses in Rothbury have voiced strong opposition to plans for a mobile coffee van in a car park popular with walkers, arguing it could draw trade away from the village. The Wildlife Trusts, alongside Northumberland Wildlife Trust, submitted a planning application for a coffee van at Lordenshaws Car Park as part of fundraising efforts to complete the purchase of the Rothbury Estates.
Plans for Weekend-Only Trial
According to the planning application, “the unit is intended to serve visitors to the site and passing members of the public.” The Wildlife Trusts told ChronicleLive that the proposal involves a three-month trial with the van operating only on weekends. The charities added that they were approached by a “young, local entrepreneur” who wished to run the van, though their identity has not been disclosed.
Local Business Owners Express Concerns
Kevin Mulraney, owner of Bewick's Kitchen and Coffee House in Rothbury, said: “The whole of Rothbury depends on walkers all winter. If you're going up Simonside and you can get your sandwich and a cup of tea, why would you come to the village? It's really strange because they have said they're supporting the village but putting competition up isn't supporting the village. It's opening competition.” He added that if a café or coffee van is to open there, it should be run by a local person, not a national charity, noting that businesses are already struggling with the current economy.
Graham Wade, owner of Rothbury Bakery, told ChronicleLive the proposal could “draw business away” from the village. He said: “I think it probably would impact our village by quite a bit. It'd be a nice attraction, but for the villagers with cafés, bakers and butchers, I think it would be a big struggle. I think it's going to draw businesses away from us.”
Councillor Criticises Proposal
Coun Steven Bridgett, who represents the Rothbury ward, said he has consistently opposed food and beverage providers at the Cow Haugh car park on the River Coquet, except for a long-established ice cream van. He explained: “The reason has always been straightforward: facilities of this nature draw trade away from the village centre and place existing businesses at a disadvantage. Unlike permanent premises in Rothbury, mobile units also do not contribute business rates in the same way as our local shops, cafés and restaurants. Given the Wildlife Trust's repeated public assurances that it wants to support Rothbury's businesses and strengthen the local economy, this proposal appears entirely at odds with those commitments.”
Coun Bridgett also noted that despite the planning application being submitted on June 18, no mention was made of it at a public meeting on July 13 to update the community on the estate, a point raised with the Wildlife Trusts by ChronicleLive.
Wildlife Trusts Respond
Peter Batchelor, managing director for the Wildlife Trusts at Rothbury, said: “The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust were recently contacted by a young, local entrepreneur interested in operating a coffee van from the Lordenshaws car park on The Rothbury Estate. We are keen to explore opportunities for job creation in the local community and so, following careful consideration of local businesses, it was agreed that, subject to planning approval, a three-month trial would be undertaken on a weekends-only basis. The purpose of the trial is to assess its commercial viability for the vendor, while also understanding any potential impact on businesses in Rothbury.”
Batchelor added: “As with much of our plans on The Rothbury Estate, we are committed to working with the local community, and so we welcome feedback from local residents and businesses. Any decision on the proposal will be subject to the appropriate planning considerations and procedures, alongside feedback received from the local community. We hope to see local businesses like these succeed alongside our ambitions to boost the wildlife and opportunities to access nature in the area.”
