A petition to stop a planning application for yet another café opening in Wellington Town centre has been gathering enormous support over the past fortnight.
Tracey Hall, owner of the Hard Times Café in South Street, backed by the Wellington Business Association organised the petition, available for signature in a cross section of shops within Wellington town centre, so that people could register their concern about this change of use.
The petition which gathered around 1,400 signatures was handed into Wellington Town Council on Monday, and faxed through to Taunton Deane Borough Council.
Tracey said “I’ve spoken to a number of retailers around the town who are against this change of use for yet another café in the centre. What Wellington needs more is a clothes shop, especially for children’s clothes and school wear. There is nothing like that in Wellington and everybody goes off to Taunton to buy them. I’m delighted with the response to the petition.”
The Wellington Business Association has supported Tracey’s and other retailers’ efforts with the petition. “We welcome Tracey’s efforts in running this petition on the basis that a sustainable and viable town centre depends upon having a varied mix of businesses rather than a lot of the same type of outlet” commented Ian Stock, Chair of the WBA, “Wellington already has seven specialist cafes plus a similar number of retailers with in-shop facilities serving teas and coffees for consumption either on or off the premises.”