Angry trader hits out at "unhelpful" council (From Penarth Times)

Angry trader hits out at "unhelpful" council

A PENARTH businessman says he's at his wit's end with Vale planners, who he claims are preventing his business from growing.

Neil Fox, owner of Foxy's Deli at the Royal Buildings, wants to expand a cafe area at the back of the store into a courtyard.

Mr Fox wants to increase the size of his kitchen area and add space for an extra 15 to 20 seats, which would double the size of the cafe.

Since opening up in Penarth three years ago he has built up a successful business, which has become popular with local people.

He said: "We are now so busy that we simply need more kitchen and seating space to cope with demand.

"We submitted plans in December last year for the extension. We were advised that the plans would be rejected because the permission required would be for a restaurant and that would be unacceptable in this particular area.

"Fair enough, we said, we'll have to compromise - what alterations do we have to make to our plans?

"But no-one at the planning department has been able to give us advice on how we should proceed. The matter keeps getting passed from one person to the next.

"The whole thing has been left hanging and six months down the line we're still no further on. It's been a very frustrating experience."

Five hundred members of the public have signed a petition in favour of the cafe extension.

A spokesperson for the Vale said: "The Vale of Glamorgan Council has advised Mr Fox of the position regarding his withdrawn planning application both in writing and over the telephone.