Popular cafe in Warmley at risk after unexpected planning hurdle
A popular cafe on the Bristol and Bath Railway Path is at risk after an unexpected planning discovery was made.
The Warmley Waiting Room cafe wants to cater to more visitors and posted about its expansion plans to its Facebook page on July 29, alongside illustrations of how the new expansion might work.
However, upon putting their application to the council, the team has discovered that the original planning permission for the cafe itself, which was built in the early 1980s, was only granted as temporary.
Now Warmley Waiting Room has asked for support from its customers, to ensure there is a cafe on the site at all.
The team said: "At Warmley Waiting Room we are always looking for ways to improve and enhance our customer service and overall experience.
"Our latest plan is to replace two store rooms in the garden with a new building containing improved storage, a preparation kitchen and additional covered customer seating. The platform cafe will remain unchanged.
"Our popularity has meant that we have outgrown our current small workspace, so the new single storey, timber clad building will enable us to continue to serve our customers for many years to come and will be similar in appearance and style to our summer house.
"Whilst applying we have discovered that the original planning permission for the cafe, in the early 1980s, was only granted as temporary.
"We now have to apply for planning permission for the existing cafe and garden plus the new build.
"Because we are in a green belt we need to demonstrate a level of public support for the scheme for the planners to consider our application.
"If you are willing to offer your support, please can you provide your feedback in the comment section below so that we can submit them with our planning application. Thank you."
Customers were quick to take to the comments section to share their support for the cafe. At time of writing, the post had more than 300 likes, 369 comments and 86 shares.
One customer wrote: "The most wonderful place to stop by for refreshments and such a well deserved need for improvement. So to carry on the brilliant experience and quality you have when visiting it."
A second said: "I fully support the application by Warmley Waiting Room. As a local resident I feel we’re very lucky to have this establishment right on our doorstep; it’s a great place to visit for locals and wider visitors alike. Good luck with the plans."
A third commented: "You have our support, we are very local to you and use this cafe weekly. You guys are an asset to the area and those who use the B2B (Bristol to Bath path).
"Looking at the plans these are purely focused on continuing to provide a valued service to the area. Much unlike many other local planning applications that have been approved to progress recently."