Cafe could be demolished after planning rejections

A cafe is under threat of being knocked down after a council doubled down on its decision to refuse planning permission.

The Fed & Watered cafe in Ryton, Gateshead, was built behind a children's play centre without receiving permission from Gateshead Council.

The local authority has refused multiple, retrospective applications because it was "worried" about access to the soft play business and a footpath to the local primary school near the site.

The cafe's owner, Joanne Stanton, said she was "disappointed" by the decision but would keep the business open while she asked for negotiations.

"Why does the council want a valuable resource closed?" she said.

"After Covid businesses are closing left, right and centre. Why would they not support it to stay open?"

She added that the cafe's opening hours, 09:00 to 14:30, were in place to avoid potential collisions.

The cafe has had support from members of the local community and in August 2023 a petition opposing its demolition got more that 2,500 signatures, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The council said it had issued an enforcement notice against the cafe in May 2023.

It also said suggested changes to the site, including the introduction of a one-way system, offered "no significant new information that has not already been considered".

Anneliese Hutchinson, the council's strategic director for economy, innovation and growth, said the authority was prepared to use its planning enforcement powers to ensure public safety.

"We have tried to work with the owners of the cafe for a long period to try to resolve the planning dispute," she said.

"But we have now reached a point where no new information is coming forward and we do not have proposals that would be acceptable for highway safety."

She added an independent planning inspector, appointed by the government, had supported the council's position.

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