Wednesday December 11th 2024
The A68 Trunk Road at the Carter Bar lay-bys on the border between Scotland an d England.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A bid for two ‘coffee stops’ on the border between Scotland and England has fallen flat with planners.
Paul Anderson of Wooplaw Farm Limited submitted an application for the provision of container and trailer coffee outlets on either side of the A68 Trunk Road at the Carter Bar lay-bys.
The facilities were earmarked alongside the site of the Redeswire Fray, one of the last Border battles which took place in 1575, and included the formation of hard-standing areas for public seating.
The new container coffee stop to the East side of the lay-by was for people travelling from Scotland to England and the trailer coffee stop to the West side of the lay-by for people travelling from England to Scotland.
The two facilities were planned to lead to a future proposed development of a cafe/restaurant on the A6088/A68 junction, subject to planning approval.
A report in support of the application stated: “Having a coffee stop on both sides of the lay-by improves safety, so as not to encourage people to cross the A68 on foot.
“The existing walking trail will be upgraded from the farm access to the container coffee stop to provide a facility for walkers as well as motorists.”
But the bid raised a number of objections, including one from the provider of the Reiver’s View coffee stop in the area, who said: “There is no room on the Carter Bar for two food operators, certainly not adjacent to each other, and by this site obtaining permission, I will effectively be pushed out of business.
“How is that in any way fair, when I went through due process, invested heavily in the purchase of the van and car to tow it, and have put the leg work in to maintain a customer base?”
In his report refusing the application, SBC planning officer Euan Calvert states: “The proposals represent a development which would cater for both through traffic and tourism visitors.
“The Planning Authority recognise that the enhancement of visitor facilities at this isolated location would be welcomed by tourists, but the introduction of further snack bars would compete with the facilities on offer within the settlement boundary of Jedburgh, contrary to national and local town centre polices.
“A coffee shop/takeaway permission would set an undesirable precedent for others seeking to locate in rural areas as opposed to the designated town centres.
“It is considered that this coffee shop business could be located within a town centre unit and does not need to be located within the isolated countryside location.”
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