A row over plans to expand a town centre beauty salon to include a cafe may be decided at a public inquiry, writes Karen Rosine.
The plans were refused by the Vale of White Horse District Council in November despite a 543-name petition backing the venture.
Revised proposals for the cafe, in Bath Street, Abingdon, to run alongside a small antiques business have been submitted and will be considered by councillors next month.
If these are rejected, an informal public inquiry has been earmarked for April. Business partners Kevin Martin and Tracey Berry believe the council is blocking an opportunity to revitalise the town centre and utilise an empty shop unit.
Top Front Health and Beauty is doing well and they, as owners, want to expand to offer nutritional food. They plan to convert a former shoe shop to create Top Cafe.
The council said the plans would "harm the retail vitality of this part of the town".
Story date: Monday 21 February
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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