A POPULAR community café described by its owners as a “lifeline” has closed for the final time after its expansion proposal was rejected by planning officers.
Rosie Hodgson, and her husband Stewart, had hoped to build on the success of their Cozy Coffee business - based out of a converted bus in Brafferton, near Darlington - by opening a new purpose built café building.
The couple said the new facility would prevent further complications over social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic as they were unable to reopen the converted bus due to the restrictions.
A new building would have provided “a comfortable, friendly and welcoming place to admire the surrounding countryside whilst enjoying a cup of tea or coffee,” a planning application stated, while also providing improve disabled access.
However, council officers rejected the application because the proposed building was in “an unsuitable, isolated location with poor accessibility and links to local infrastructure” and was contrary to local planning policies.
And last week the couple called time on the business after seven years.
Read more: Darlington cafe reopens eight months after fire attack
Mrs Hodgson said: “The decision has not been taken lightly , (I know the time is right for me) the ups have been amazing and the downs not so amazing but it's been a fun, life enriching experience, many long lasting friendships formed, all down to your constant support, encouragement and custom.”
The couple had hoped to breathe new life into the business after a turbulent few years in their professional and personal lives.
The café initially opened as a shepherd’s hut but was later torched and burnt to the ground after an arson attack in 2017. All that remained following the blaze was the charred remains of what had been described as “the best thing to happen to Brafferton” by customers.
But after overwhelming support from customers, the café – a popular meeting place and visitor spot for walkers and cyclists – opened inside a former single-decker bus.
The couple admitted they had struggled during the coronavirus pandemic however, while Stewart also suffered from kidney failure. Mrs Hodgson became her husband’s living donor and the new proposal was submitted on June 5 2020 .
A planning statement read: “At present the existing bus converted to a café is very compact and inaccessible for the disabled, it also is not possible to achieve the social distancing required, we have no indication of how long the social distancing will be in place this, in turn stops the bus café reopening.
“This has been our only form of income for the last two years due to Mr Hodgson suffering kidney failure and being unable to work. This has been a lifeline to bring a small income into the household.”
A roof terrace would have been built on the new building, providing views of the surrounding area, alongside excavation work to lower the building into the ground, with Mr and Mrs Hodgson saying the building would only have a “small impact” in the surrounding countryside.
“With many recent planning applications getting passed in the local area it seems the time is right to apply to maintain future employment and new employment as the bus was often full over capacity,” the statement added.
Speaking of the council’s rejection, Mrs Hodgson said: “We applied to Darlington Borough Council (DBC) with plans for a new cafe, not massive but enough space to keep everyone distanced safely, well thought out, discreet in the landscape, insulated with efficient heating to enhance the Cozy experience, we were excited.
“Unfortunately, DBC weren't as excited and after many months of questions and unanswered emails (on their behalf) permission was refused, so much for supporting small businesses, seems unfair and frustrating as we have potential prospect of a multimillion pound road ploughing through our adjacent farmland.”
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