A SLEW of angry local residents have taken to social media to vent their frustration after a cafe installed an outdoor seating area in the middle of the road.
Business owner Kerry Ashby was among several angry residents perplexed by the “eyesore” in Louth, Lincolnshire.
Posting the image online, she wrote: “I’m stuck for words! Except joke, not in keeping with Georgian conservation order, what a waste of taxpayers’ money , hideous.”
According to Grimsby Live, the bizarre seating area – labelled a ‘parklet’ – for Larders Coffee House was erected in an effort to maintain the town’s “cafe culture.”
It also reportedly formed part of the council’s Active Travel Scheme – which aims to promote cycling and walking.
But many have hit back seating area, citing its adverse effect on the area’s parking and vehicle accessibility.
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Slamming the creation on social media, one wrote: “I am not sure I would want to recline next to a busy road in the middle of town? Also concerned children might fall off the side into traffic?”
Another added: “They must have completely lost the plot. What an absolute… eyesore.”
While a third said: “That can’t be safe or healthy. How is this encouraging cyclists?
“It must make it more dangerous to bike through town as they’ll have to dodge in and out of these parklets.”
A petition has since been launched by the establishment to keep the seating area – despite ongoing protests from local residents.
Mike Bristow, from Larders Coffee House, told the outlet: “Larders Coffee House wish to ensure that the hundreds if not thousands of hospitality customers locally and holidaymakers that have enjoyed this unique to Louth cafe culture are given the opportunity to say yes to keep it.”
While Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, added: “There’s clearly a lot of support in Louth, and across Lincolnshire, for exploring different ways of using our high streets and moving about them.
Popular in the United States, a parklet is a small seating area or green space created as a public amenity on or alongside a pavement.
Usually parklets are installed on parking lanes and use several parking spaces.
“The Government has provided this money to experiment with new ideas and approaches to try and do things better.
“Whilst I recognise that we don’t always get everything right first time, this petition does suggest that there is more support than some would like to admit for our experimental trial in Louth.”
Louth Town and District Councillors have since suggested they would set out to discuss the scheme following the trial period of similar parklets found throughout the town.
Councillor Makinson-Sanders told Grimsby Live: “We will never get these issues sorted out unless we all calm down and sit and discuss it all.
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“That way we should find a consensus that allows our independent shops to survive and thrive and we bring a bit of sparkle in the summer too.
“A hybrid is the answer and I think most people would find that acceptable. But launching petitions is not the way forward.”
