Boat cafe: A planning document details how a barge could become a cafe moored outside the shopping centre.
A proposal has been put forward to turn a boat moored outside the Waterside Shopping Centre into a cafe.
The plans would see a traditionally styled barge moored outside the south entrance of the shopping centre.
A gate to the barge would also be installed within the filings to allow people to easily access the boat.
After a site visit, planning officers concluded that the boat would not interfere with the visual amenities and offers visitors extra variety when choosing a cafe in the area.
The applicant, Christine Ellerby, also assured the City Council that the boat would be securely moored to the side of the Witham.
According to the document: “The proposed boat will provide an acceptable use in the shopping area located in such a way to ensure that there will not be a concentration of uses that would harm the vitality and viability of the city centre.
“The design of the boat is acceptable and will not be harmful to visual amenity.”
However, a number of businesses in the area have raised concerns over the boat cafe.
Some argue that it could cause a flood risk and has potential to be dangerous in flood conditions, while others feel it’s hazardous to other boaters.
Both the Environment Agency and British Waterways Board studied the application and felt the boat would not pose a risk to other boaters or in case of flooding.
The proposal will be put in front of the City of Lincoln Council Planning Committee on June 20 for consideration.
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