Mixed views on empty units as town centre becoming a café society

Newbury has seen an influx of planning applications for cafés and restaurants in the town centre in recent weeks and on Monday, Newbury Town Council had its say.
The Bakers Street has applied to turn the unit between Café Rouge and Superdry in Parkway into a deli-café and no objections were raised to this.
Caffè Nero has submitted retrospective planning permission for its newly-opened cafe in Northbrook Street and again, no objections were raised to this.
Permission to turn a former shop unit between TK Maxx and the Kennet Centre car park into a restaurant and café, sought by Susanna Lopes, was also nodded through.
Pret à Manger has also applied to turn the YMCA unit in Northbrook Street into a café, restaurant and retail outlet.
On this application, ward member David Allen (Lib Dem, Victoria) said: “I propose no objections because it’s the first time this chain has gone into Newbury.
“I know it’s another food outlet, but it’s the people’s choice - if it’s a success it stays, if it’s not, it goes.”
Not all members of the council were happy to raise no objections to all of these retail units being turned into food outlets., though.
Adrian Edwards (Con, Falkland) said: “We have four applications for changing from retail to something else.
“If we carry on this way, there will be very little retail left.
“Is it not time to consider objecting to these numerous units changing from retail to food.
"When is this going to stop?”
However, most of the other members were happy for the units to be in use either way.
Tony Stretton said: “At the end of the day, [the food outlets] are taking the risk – they are filling the space.
"I would rather see [the units] filled than empty.”
Final decisions on all these applications will be made by West Berkshire Council.