March 6, 2018 9.09 am This story is over 85 months old

Horncastle hardware store set to be transformed into Costa Coffee

‘We’re sad to see the loss of a long-established hardware store’
Achurch and Sons in Horncastle. Photo: Google Street View

Councillors are set to approve plans to turn a hardware store on Horncastle Market Place into a Costa Coffee.

Applicant Raja Adil of Cuppacoff Ltd has submitted the plans for the coffee shop on 16-17 Market Place, where Achurch and Sons is based.

Councillors on East Lindsey District Council’s Planning Committee will make a decision on the proposals at a meeting in Manby on Thursday, March 8.

The application states that seven full-time jobs would be created as part of the proposed development.

Costa would open the shop seven days a week from 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and from 9.30am to 5pm on Sundays.

No changes would be made to the main entrance of the building, with the ground floor set to be the main serving area.

Additional seating would be created on the first floor.

Horncastle Town Council has backed the plans, but has asked councillors to put in place measures to stop additional litter being created in the town.

The proposals have received a more mixed response from the Horncastle Heritage and History Society.

Michael Hieatt from the society said: “The society is saddened to learn of the proposed loss of a long established local hardware store but is encouraged that a prominent national coffee outlet chain, Costa, has chosen to submit this application, which expresses some confidence in the future growth of the town.

“The society is very conscious that the proposal would introduce further competition to a number of tea and coffee shops in the town.

“However the offerings made by each of these outlets cater for different tastes and the presence of Costa in the Market Square may be of benefit to all, helping increase the overall footfall within the town centre.”

Horncastle resident Margaret Darkes has objected to the plans.

She said: “Do we really need another coffee outlet in the town? There are more than enough small local businesses trading in this area as cafés, we certainly don’t need another one.

“There is also the matter of litter – the town does not need more litter including non-recyclable plastic cups and holders that this type of outlet usually generates.”