A pancake shop's cafe culture bid fell flat after it was tossed a £1,000 bill by the council.
Angry - Peter Richardson, owner of the Pancake Parlour in Colchester, has been told to pay up or lose the table and chairs outside his shop. Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE
Owner Peter Richardson thought he was giving Colchester a classy European feel when he put a tiny table and chairs outside the Pancake Parlour.
But his continental cafe-style dream has been battered by red tape.
Colchester Council says he must pay £1,000-a-year for people to sit outside the Osborne Street cafe.
"It is only a little round table and two chairs so there was no chance of them obstructing the pavement," said stunned Peter, who opened the family-run business in May.
"It was meant to be part of the European-style culture the council is always banging on about.
"We were just trying to make this part of town a little bit nicer in our own small way but then a man from the council came and said you need a licence for that."
The Pancake Parlour has been told to stump up the cash or ditch the table.
The council says tables and chairs must be licensed to make sure they do not obstruct pavements.
A spokesman said: "We're not vindictive - we want to help."
Published Wednesday July 28, 2004
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