Trade fury at outdoor charge plan

Licensees in the coastal resort of Lowestoft, Suffolk, are furious that they could be forced to fork out extra cash so that they can put tables and chairs outside their outlets.

Members of Waveney District Council's regeneration and environment panel have backed plans to introduce a licence system to regulate pubs and cafés that want to allow their customers to drink outside.

At the moment, the council does not operate any formal licence scheme and turns a blind eye to businesses that have put chairs and tables outside, providing there are no complaints from the public.

But a spokesman said the council wanted to introduce the new scheme in a drive to bring the town into line with current food hygiene and health and safety regulations.

While many businesses support alfresco drinking, they are not so happy about the council's plans to make them pay for it.

The cost could run into hundreds of pounds if plans to charge businesses £20 per table are given the go-ahead.

Carole Miller, licensee of the Volunteer pub in the town's London Road North, has been putting tables and chairs outside for 15 years and is unhappy about the new scheme because it would add to high business rates.

Ray Howarth, who runs the Clapham Arms in the town, is also unhappy at the news. He has 20 tables outside and cannot afford to get rid of them as they cover an area that is three times bigger than his inside trading area.

If the proposals go ahead, licensees in the town could be paying for their outside tables and chairs as early as this coming summer.