A councillor’s complaint about the recent increase in cafes and bars serving outdoors in the town centre has been dismissed by a colleague who countered: “I think it brings some life to Keswick.”
Councillor Peter Terry said a retailer on Market Square had spoken to him about the rise in al fresco drinking and dining as more businesses set up tables and chairs outside their premises to expand their sales areas “at no cost.”
“The trader told me ‘what if I brought a trestle table out and put my goods and wares out on it? Would this be acceptable?’,” said Mr Terry at last week’s town council meeting.
He added that if two cafes were close together, their street furniture would block out nearby shops and stop passers-by from window shopping.
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of cafes and bars in Keswick town centre serving customers outdoors in recent weeks to combat restrictions on social distancing which have reduced the number of people allowed indoors.
This is allowed under emergency planning regulations during the coronavirus pandemic.
There was no complaint from councillor Allan Daniels, who is a member of both the town council and Allerdale Borough Council.
He responded: “All these businesses have applied to Allerdale for planning permission (for outdoor service) and we gave them planning permission.”
Mr Daniels added: “I quite like the cafe society. I think it brings some life to Keswick town centre. I don’t have a problem with it.”
He said the Mama Mia pizza business would be the next one to start operating outdoors in Market Square, where The Round and Java were already doing so regularly, along with Morrell’s in Lake Road and Wetherspoon’s Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Bank Street.
