A Starbucks franchise has taken one step closer to opening a coffee shop at the Shoe Zone premises in Deal High Street.

Permission was granted to franchisee GK Coffee at a meeting of the district council’s planning department yesterday (Thursay).

The application, submitted in January, asked to change the designated use from a retail store (A1) to a coffee shop (A3).

More letters of objection than previously reported took the total to 90 people against the proposal. The points they raised were the lack of waste storage which could lead to rats; the abundance of coffee shops could result in a less attractive High Street; and some specified the application fails to comply with the local plan.

Councillors were made aware of other objections, but they are not deemed material planning considerations and were therefore not considered. These included the opinions that Deal does not need another cafe; it would become competition for independent coffee shops and there was criticism of the brand Starbucks after its tax avoidance affairs were revealed.

There were 10 letters in support. Some welcome Starbucks over having an unsightly empty shop; others feel it will bring footfall into Deal and provide new jobs, later specified as five members of staff working 35 hours each per week, one manager and three supervisors working 40 hours a week.

As a consultee Deal Town Council had no objections and neither did the Environment Agency.

The prospect of siting tables and chairs outside was dropped by the applicant.

Cllr Bill Gardener proposed a motion to grant permission but specified there should be a condition that the applicant can not put tables and chairs outside. The suggestion was not favoured at a vote and the motion to grant the application without a condition preventing exterior tables and chairs was passed.