Shepton Mallet Town Council is asking for people's view on the amenities at Collett Park Picture: Shepton Town Council

Dispute over the future of Shepton Mallet’s Collet Park Cafe

Tait ap EllisJune 25, 20240 Comment0

SHEPTON Mallet’s popular Collett Park Cafe could see a complete redevelopment in the next few years but the current tenant has hit back at the plans and requested it is “left as it is”.

The council’s ideas to redevelop the cafe would be to create indoor and outdoor seating and improve the standard and accessibility of the toilet facilities “to ensure the buildings last for many generations to come” as well as creating a space that can be operated in all weather conditions, with longer opening hours all year round.

Shepton Mallet Town Council launched a public consultation asking residents for their thoughts on the park and the cafe itself, following its successful redesign of the play area, to ensure that any changes are in line with the needs and wants of the community.

While no decision has been made as of yet, the town council will be discussing how the potential new cafe facilities will operate at a meeting in the council chamber in the former Mendip Shape building tonight (June 25).

The current tenant’s lease is set to expire in January 2027 to enable works to take place at the site, but the tenant hit back at the redevelopment plans on social media last week and has requested that the cafe be “left as it is” and that the only changes should be that the toilets stay open past 2pm.

The tenant also claims that they have been refused to tender for the cafe once their lease expires, but the town council has denied this.

The post on the Collett Park Cafe Facebook page reads: “The council plans to demolish our café (that bizarrely they claim to now own) and build a large shipping container-style café with indoor and outdoor seating and a fully licensed bar.

“This makes me giggle, after all the years of having to fight to be allowed to sell alcohol at our events!

“Despite their offer to let me tender for the new café if I left quietly, I refused to be bullied and fought for our right to stay.

“As it stands, we have been told that we will absolutely not be allowed to tender for the new café, so this current lease might be our last unless we receive your support.”

In response, a spokesperson for the town council, which is is responsible for the upkeep of Collett Park and the maintenance of the building and structures throughout, said: “The award of the operating contract of the new cafe will be subject to an open call for expressions of interest akin to a tender process.

“It would be against the law for the council to exclude anyone on principle from applying.”

One of the options under consideration is that the council would operate the cafe itself and employs the team directly. Another option is that the café could be run and operated by a tenant much like the current arrangements.

The current tenant also claimed that any improvements to the park would come at a cost to residents through their council tax bill, but the council says that while some of the money for the plans will come through a short-term increase to the precept, the rest will be acquired through a loan from central government.

The council, which is also trustee of the Collett Park charity, said: “The town council’s primary sources of income are the precept (a levy on residents’ council tax) and external funding.

“At a public council meeting in April of this year, the town council agreed it would look to fund the new cafe and facilities through a blend of short-term precept increase, a long-term loan from central government (paid off over 10 years), and external funding.

“The new cafe, once operating, will generate an income to the town council which will be used to offset the cost to taxpayers.”

The issue will be discussed by the town council at a meeting tonight.

To comment on the Collet Park consultation visit the town council’s website.