Gscene News Archive

Green Councillors on Brighton and Hove Council have condemned a decision to allow Starbucks to open an outlet in a conservation area of the city following an appeal that was heard last month.

The US coffee chain was originally refused planning permission to open on St James’s St, but has been trading for more than a year despite the ban while the appeal was prepared.

Green Cllr Rachel Fryer, who alongside local residents and traders formed a campaign opposing the Starbuck’s planning application, today expressed her disappointment with the result:
“This decision is a slap in the face for the thousands of local people who campaigned against giving Starbucks planning permission.

“Over the past year local residents and traders have organised weekly protests, collected over 3,000 signatures on a petition against Starbucks, formed a Facebook group with almost 2000 Members and written to the council to object in their hundreds.

“Our reasons are many: There are already 12 coffee outlets on St James’s St and traders are rightly worried that the new Starbucks will take business away from independent stores and eventually push many of them out of business. Local planning officers feel a new Starbucks will not add to the diversity and vitality of the area or encourage people to the street. Many people are simply concerned about Starbucks’ dubious ethical practices – there is, for example, a Starbucks in Guantanamo Bay.

“But our objections have been ignored. Once again, it’s a victory for big business over local people.

"Greens have been calling for years to protect communities against the negative impacts of huge chain stores like this. We urgently need stronger planning law to ensure that in David versus Goliath battles such as this, local people are better able to defend their communities.”

Leader of the Labour group, Cllr Gill Mitchell, said,
“This decision seems to turn planning law on its head. Whatever the pros and cons of the Starbucks issue, there should be consistency in the application of the law.”

Green MEP and Green candidate for Brighton Pavilion, Caroline Lucas said:
“Today’s decision is a massive blow for local democracy.

“Not only does it threaten the viability of local businesses – local independent cafes are already reporting a loss of takings – but of the council’s ability to take planning decisions in accordance with local people’s wishes.

“Whatever we think of the local council, when it comes to planning decisions it’s all we’ve got. If its decisions are being ignored we must stand up to the bullies.”

Lib Dem Group Leader, Cllr Paul Elgood said:
"The news that Starbucks have won their appeal against the council's planning department is tragic. It shows that the multi-nationals have the might to send in their top legal team and fight any local decision which goes against them. They should have respected local planning regulations in the first place and then the clearly expressed will of the elected council. What concerns me is that officers will be even more reluctant to fight these multi-nationals who already think they can do what they want, where they want."

Pictured: Euro MEP Caroline Lucas joins the weekly protest outside Starbucks

For more information about the Greens view:
www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk/