Plans to sell ice creams and drinks from a converted horse trailer have been given the go-ahead as the owners plan a multi-million pound restoration of a historic mill in a picturesque waterside Cotswold village.
Frederik Jacobs has been granted permission by Cotswold District Council for a street trading consent to allow him to set up shop at The Old Mill in Mill Lane, Lower Slaughter.
Mr Jacobs has been allowed to position a converted horse trailer at the Old Mill to provide hot and cold beverages, ice cream, packed snacks, and sandwiches for 12 months by the licensing sub-committee on June 26.
And he will be allowed to open from 10am to 5pm Wednesday to Friday and from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
As well as seven days a week during the peak season of July, August and September. He has also submitted plans to the District Council to sensitively renovate the grade II-listed building to turn it into a modern home for his family.
The planning application includes the conversion of annexe building to ancillary accommodation and erection of single storey extension. Along with the addition of a coffee shop/deli, museum and shop, and restoration of the mill building.
Craig Baylis, Mr Jacobs; agent, told the committee he lives in Bibury and is well aware of issues residents in tourism hotpot villages face.
He explained the Old Mill was used as a cafe and souvenir shop by previous occupiers until Mr Jacobs bought it. Mr Jacobs will be investing nearly £4m in acquiring and renovating the property to turn it into something attractive for the community and tourists,” he added.
“It won’t open until late next year,” he said.
“Once it does reopen the truck will go, this is only a temporary measure for Mr Jacobs until the renovation is completed. Then we revert back to what it always was which was a very successful cafe and souvenir shop.
“It’s effectively a temporary measure. It probably won’t trade this year from the month of October.
“It’s a daytime operation and then maybe pick up again at the back end of April next year. He is also proposing to provide a small village store because there currently isn’t anything in Lower Slaughter.
“Somewhere where residents can buy milk, eggs and cheese.” He said the thinking behind the application is to publicise the Old Mill’s renovation.
Mr Jacobs said they bought the property about a year ago with the intention of making it their primary home.
Originally from Switzerland, he said he has been living in the UK for 12 years but really fell in love with the village when they first visited Lower Slaughter five years ago.
“We are really fortunate to be the custodians of that building,” he said. He said the Old Mill needs maintenance work to make it suitable for a family of five and ensure its heritage value is preserved.
“The trailer is not really a money making exercise for us,” he said.
“It’s really to ensure the visitors and residents in the village have somewhere to come to, to consume coffee and act as a meeting point for people and then wander off down the footpaths in Lower Slaughter, Bourton-on-the-Water or wherever their paths may take them.
“It won’t do us any good if we want to live there and it creates a nuisance.”
He said no greasy foods will be offered and no grilled food. They are open to work collaboratively with the parish council and neighbours to ensure the village’s pristine condition is preserved.
Andrew Bowler, a Lower Slaughter resident, raised concerns over the takeaway nature of the proposals.
He said the previous cafe only served food and drink for sit down customers and only ice creams were allowed to be taken away.
“That’s why there is a concern from people over and increase in waste,” he said.
Mr Bowler also said he was concerned over congestion if people queue by the horse trailer it will cause a bottleneck.
He said he is supportive of the mill’s restoration but is concerned about the takeaways. Stuart Thomas, another resident, said his main concerns were health and safety as well as waste.
He made the point that there could be waste left by visitors on the way to their cars or hotels.
Chairman Julia Judd (C, Ermin) said the committee was minded to approve the street trading consent for one year.
She added that the normal conditions would be imposed as well as an extra condition ensuring a daily litter pick. And they wanted to take up the applicant’s officer to visit the site and for the issue to be considered by the parish council.
The separate planning application is expected to be considered by planning officers in July.
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