Lauder has too many restaurants - claim

Ally McGilvray • Published 17 Jan 2012 09:30 2 Comments

CONTROVERSIAL plans to open a new restaurant in Lauder have been approved this week - despite a claim there were already too many cafes and restaurants in the town centre.

Councillors on Scottish Borders Council's planning committee granted applicant Sergio Eneide permission to turn the former retail unit at 7 Market Place, Lauder, into a bistro, to be known as Mambo's Bistro.

However, the meeting heard there had been six objections to the plans.

Speaking at the meeting in council headquarters at Newtown St Boswells on Monday, local Councillor Nicholas Watson said the plans should be refused because there were already too many cafes and restaurants in Lauder.

He said the former Food and Wines shop should be reserved for retail development to ensure the town centre retained a mixture of local businesses.

Councillor Watson, who revealed he also had concerns over a lack of parking spaces in the area, said: "If another restaurant comes here Lauder will be at the tipping point. Yet another food outlet will not be as good as another retail outlet."

However, councillors were warned by John Hayward, the local authority's Development Standards Manager, it was not their responsibility to limit competition.

Selkirkshire Councillor Carolyn Riddell-Carre said: "The fact is the food and wine shop which was there has closed so it (this property) has not succeeded in being a shop.

"I understand the concern but it's up to the restauranteur to take his chance with the competition - it's actually a vote of confidence in Lauder. Lets hope it is a great success and attracts more people to the area."

Mid Berwickshire Councillor Trevor Jones said all enterprise should be encouraged in the Borders.

And Galashiels and District Councillor Jim Hume agreed. He said Lauder could become the new Melrose, which is well known for its eating out places. Councillor Hume added: "Existing shops will benefit from extra visitors."

Councillor Watson's motion to refuse the planning application, which was supported by East Berwickshire Councillor Jim Fullarton, was defeated 10-3 at the vote.

It was proposed that the new restaurant would be open from 10am to 11pm seven days a week.

Scottish Borders Council's depute leader Councillor Calvert, who represents Tweeddale West, said: "The only time I ever stop in Lauder is to eat and I have never been let down yet."

The applicant was also granted permission to make a number of alterations to the two-storey listed building including the building of a new extension to form a kitchen, the installation of an outside flue and new signage - although Kelso Councillor Tom Weatherson suggested that the flue, which can be seen from the opposite side of the street, should have been concealed in the chimney of the neighbouring property.

Meanwhile, plans to turn the Smiddy Information Centre in East High Street, Lauder, into a retail unit were also approved this week. Councillors heard the building, which is run by the Leaderdale Community Trust, would be used to sell local crafts.

Councillor Watson said it was envisaged the library, which is currently housed in the building, would be moved to the former jail house under the Town Hall.

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• 

  dereks
  Unregistered User
  Jan 20, 13:21
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  It's only a matter of time before the already rising property prices over there in Lauder go through the roof once people finally switch on to the fact that it’s only a 30-40 minute commute to Edinburgh on one of the best and most scenic roads in Scotland, whilst the kids are sent to one of the best performing secondary schools in Scotland. I think that’s what these new businesses are tapping into. Good luck to them.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 3     No 0

• 

  sick of aye-beens
  Unregistered User
  Feb 14, 13:42
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  No, Lauder has too many pubs with restaurants attached to them. 4 at the moment. It will be great to have an actual restaurant for once. The Flat Cat gallery can get extremely busy with people waiting to get a seat, and the Mudhoney cafe is child-friendly (that's not a grumble, by the way) so it will be nice for somewhere else to sit and have a bite to eat.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 0

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