Costa sees the light!
| 25 October, 2012 | Posted by notocosta under Campaign news |
We are absolutely delighted to hear from Costa Coffee’s Managing Director, Chris Rogers, of their decision to withdraw from Totnes. We are impressed Costa has taken the time to understand our town, its economy and the 5,700 people who signed the petition asking Costa to reconsider.
This is a major milestone for local communities and is a day when the value of localism comes into its own, albeit belatedly… Unfortunately, we’re now left with a situation where planning has been granted for change of use. We’d encourage South Hams District Council to learn the lesson that Costa Coffee has had to correct. If localism means communities have the right to decide what happens in their towns, its time for planners to understand this as well.
We’d like to thank Sarah Wollaston, MP, Mayor Pruw Boswell, the Town Council and the District Councillors (Robert Vint, Mike Hannaford, Jacqi Hodgson and Judy Westacott) and the two District Councillors members (Julian Brazil and John Squire) from outside Totnes who voted with us. We’d also like to thank the people of Totnes and the surrounding communities for their time, dedication and energy. It’s their enthusiasm that has enabled this campaign to succeed.
Finally, as Mary Portas says today, this could all have been avoided. We’re aware the premises remain empty and will be seeking a meeting with South Hams District Council to discuss how we move forward.
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Congratulations on your victory!
Well done to all campaigners but BEWARE………….
press the agents to get the old Greenlife shop let as soon as possible or you will probably find another major coffee brand moving in with less of a conscience than Costa!
Well, sorry Totnes, you lost me. I have supported the local shops for twenty five years, but I intend to take my time and money elsewhere, away from this absurdity.
Costa here I come. In another town.
A great result for Totnes. All campaigners should be proud of themselves.
Think it’s more a case of Costa finally realising they would not make any money in Totnes as they would not have any customers if they had opened.
Your loss Totnes. And while we are at it, why don’t you kick out Tesco, Sainsbury, Boots and every other successful National business and go back to all those shoddy high street shops with no stock, fewer choices and over priced product.
It seems to me Costa had every right to open their shop and you had every right not to shop there. Your ridiculous campaign shows the world a short sighted Totnes and a destination I certainly won’t be visiting. But perhaps you want it that way? After all, I’m sure you don’t need tourist dollars and can survive quite nicely on all your OAPs.
Local people also need to understand that the time to most effectively influence planning outcomes is at the review of the local plan, not at the planning application stage when, let’s face it, it’s hard work, isn’t it? Planners and Local Councillors have a legal and moral obligation to follow the policies in the local plan. If they make an exception, this sets a president for subsequent decisions and makes a mockery of planning at all… If you don’t like the outcome of planning decisions, have a look at the local plan… and the policies it contains… think carefully on the wording of the policies you would like to see and work with your local council at this level… All local plans are subject to local consultation. If you don’t object or make a timely representation when the local plan is reviewed, you have tacitly agreed to the contents…! Be pro-active at an earlier stage in the process and there’ll be less negativity all round! ;)
Excellent news. Well done to everyone who fought so hard to keep Costa out of Totnes.
You are inspiration to others who find they are not only fighting developers and big business, but are also fighting local planning departments in the pocket of developers.
This raises big questions against your South Hams planners who did all they could to push this through on behalf of Costa. They are clearly not fit for purpose and there needs to be a wholesale clear-out of the rotten apples.
Why did they not make recommendations that were in the best interest of Totnes, why did they not use the Localism Act?
Something that needs to be looked at as a matter of urgency: Can the planning consent be reversed to Class A1 (retail)? Can a third party, for example local activists or Totnes Town Council, make application for change of use to Class A1 (retail)?
http://keithpp.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/costa-pulls-out-of-totnes/
I’m confused. Why don’t you allow people the choice to use Costa or not? Some people might like to use Costa in Totnes. If you prefer to go elsewhere then I guess you can do so? What gives you the right to deny them that choice?
Very true. The planning permission still exists.
Funny how you call yourselves clone stoppers!!! Have you looked up the clone in the dictionary??? 41 independent coffee outlets in Totnes all the bloody same!!!! All clones!! How many of you hippy incomers were born here in Totnes?? Im a 3rd generation true native and nobody who was born here in the last 25 years wanted you lot to protest! We all wanted a decent coffee hangout open at better hours!! Pruw Boswell and TTT woman who spoke to Radio Devon yesterday dont even have proper Totnes accents!! The people I have spoken to on FB were never asked if we did or didnt want Costa here so where the hell did the lady mayor get her poll results from??
Well done to everyone who got involved in this fantastic turnaround from Costa.
Thinking about the empty Greenlife shop, I wondered if something like a shop I saw in Yeovil could work there. Its called Love and Wonder and has several people taking different parts of the shop and selling their own things in it. It seems to work very well there and I thought maybe it could aslo be a way of sharing the rental costs? Just a thought :)
Let’s hope that LondonHoldingsPlc who lease this premises, will take note of Costa’s MD, Chris Rogers statement that he “recognised the strength of feeling in Totnes against national brands” and not just turn to the next national chain store they find.
There are local business who have shown interest in leasing the premises!
This campaign has been about Localism Bill in action – empowering towns to take responsibility for the future of their High Streets. There should be an obligation on the property leaseholder too to listen to the wishes of the townsfolk. LondonHoldingsPlc are the one’s who really need to listen to the town now, or there will a whole campaign again against a different chain shop. So now look to LondonHoldingsPlc to see how much they care about what people want and whether they can be a force for good in the communities they operate in?