UNHAPPY planners have agreed a compromise approach to controversial proposals to refurbish Blenheim Gardens Cafe, in Minehead.

The landmark building in the town’s six-acre Edwardian park has been closed for five years and had become derelict.

It is due to be reopened on April 1 by Minehead’s Cafe 21 owner William Wynn under a lease with Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) which requires the property to be modernised.

But local campaigners objected to proposed 7 am to 11 pm daily opening hours and to disabled access only being available via a ramp from a public car park behind the gardens.

SWT planning officer Russell Williams recommended the council’s planning committee should approve Mr Wynn’s application because bringing the cafe back into use would benefit the town.

Mr Williams said Mr Wynn had agreed to amend the opening times to 8 am to 8 pm, which was more aligned to the times when the gardens would be open to the public.

However, planning committee members were concerned that there was no disabled ramp from the front of the building to allow people with mobility issues to access it without leaving the park.

They also expressed strong concern that the cafe itself did not include an accessible toilet for customers.

Mr Williams said he regretted the rear access ramp did not go through to the front of the cafe, but said it would still be better than the previous situation when the building did not have any accessible entrance at all.

Councillors heard that as a planning authority they could not legally enforce a condition for accessible toilets to be provided.

They were then told that Blenheim Gardens had a public toilet block nearby – but were not also told it was closed.

Cllr Brenda Weston said it would be a ‘shame upon this authority’ if the plans were approved as submitted.

She said: “The lessee should come forward with alternative plans that are fit for purpose in this day and age. I cannot understand how we can be by-passing people.

“The entrance from the rear looks to me like an insult, to expect people to push a wheelchair along a road.

“It should be equipped with fully-accessible toilet facilities and baby changing facilities to make it inclusive for the population as a whole.”

Cllr Roger Habgood, who highlighted Minehead’s reputation as a caring town and host of the Fox’s Academy for those with special educational needs, said: “It is just not right. I think it is wrong in this day and age.”

Watchet Cllr Loretta Whetlor said: “I do feel there is a lot wrong with this application.”

Williton Cllr Ian Aldridge said his village parish council provided an accessible public toilet in its small building, so the Blenheim Gardens Cafe should also be able to provide one.

Former shopkeeper Cllr Ray Tully said when he was in business he was required to have a single access for all customers able bodied or not and was not allowed to have a separate access ramp.

After taking advice from SWT solicitor Martin Evans, the committee delegated powers to the council’s officers to approve the application in consultation with the planning chairman and vice-chairman provided within 15 working days Mr Wynn submitted revised plans showing how an access ramp to the cafe could be provided from the gardens.

The committee also agreed to restrict the opening hours of the cafe to the times when the park was open to the public but not earlier than 8 am nor later than 8 pm daily.

A further condition was agreed that trees which had been removed must be replaced in consultation with the council’s parks management staff.

Councillors were told that if the conditions were not met, then the planning application could not be approved.