'Frustration' as bid to expand boat cafe denied

The owner of a popular narrowboat cafe has described his frustration over a two-year fight to expand his business.

Leo Thomas-Lawson, joint owner of the Boat Cafe in Gloucester Docks, spoke to BBC Radio Gloucestershire after plans to build a pontoon next to the boat were rejected.

"We believe in the business, the community likes it so we're going to keep on being patient and hope for a positive outcome," he said.

A spokesperson for Gloucester City Council said the refusal decision was made "following the correct procedures".

Among the reasons for refusal, the council said, were concerns about a "negative impact" on neighbours living next to the boat.

"Planning law requires us to consider factors such as noise, disturbance and overall impact on living conditions, rather than popularity or an applicant's business success," they said.

Mr Thomas-Lawson said he had estimated that the cafe had lost out on a minimum of £45,000 over the past two years because people visiting the Docks in the summer chose to use other nearby businesses so they could sit outside.

He and his business partner want to create space for around 30 extra seats outside, but have faced a number of rejections.

"It is very frustrating, we're trying to provide solutions to [the council's] issues," he said.

One of the issues raised by residents' was the impact of running a generator on the pontoon, with concerns over noise and sound pollution.

Mr Thomas Lawson said the cafe had also spent two years trying to get permission from the Canal & River Trust to use a nearby electricity point, in order to avoid having to use a generator.

A spokesperson for the Trust said that while they want the docks to "be a thriving place to be [...] in this instance it's not practicable for us to provide the electric supply that they're asking for.

"We've suggested alternative ways for them to generate power and hope they are able to continue as part of the variety of businesses operating in the docks."

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