Petition launched after Brent Council stops Wembley caf� converting into a restaurant
The owners of Montparnasse in Bridge Road are seeking support
Signatures are being sought for a petition after council chiefs rejected a planning application that would see a caf� converted into a restaurant.
The owners of Montparnasse, a French caf� which serves coffee and cakes in Bridge Road, Wembley, wanted to convert their business into a restaurant offering hot meals cooked on site.
But the bid was thrown out by Brent Council, who claim they want to focus on boosting retail on the parade.
Cafe chiefs are calling on the community to add names to their petition.
You may also want to watch:
Martin Francis, Wembley resident and Green Party campaigner, is supporting the caf�’s campaign, saying it would be a positive change to the area.
He says there are too many chicken and betting shops at the moment.
Most Read
- 1 Fury as Brent's planning committees approves 'another high-rise' hotel in Wembley
- 2 Residents anger as fourth gambling casino approved in Willesden street
- 3 Brent gang members convicted of shooting a man in Enfield
- 4 Brent MP order out of Commons after accusing Prime Minister of lying 'over and over again'
- 5 Petition against LTNs in Cricklewood exceeds 1,000 signatures
- 6 Wembley: Fan robbed of watch after Euro 2020 final
- 7 Tokyo Olympics: Brondesbury Park pupils wish swimmer Tom Dean luck
- 8 Brent motorists hit with 2,633 blue badge penalty notices in 2020
- 9 Men from Canning Town and Leytonstone charged with theft from Wembley Stadium
- 10 Teenager's artwork reimagines grandfather's class photo
“The council seems to argue that there is not enough retail on the parade and that restaurants take away from the vibrancy of the shopping street.
“That is not very logical as far as I can see.”
Mr Francis added: “As a local I would welcome a nice French restaurant as a change from chicken shops and betting shops.”
The petition is expected to be handed to the council in the next few months.
In a report prepared by Brent Council outlining their reasons for rejecting the plans, which were submitted in February, it says they were committed to retaining as much retail frontage as possible.
It says: “Overall, it is considered that the proposal will further impact on the vitality and viability of this primary shopping parade and is considered unacceptable.”
It adds that the proportion of non-retail premises in Bridge Road is above 35 per cent and at no point in the road are there more than three retail units in a row.
