Craft night designs part of cafe plan for empty South Shields shop

The former Highfield News shop, in Highfield Road, South Shields, could become home to a new business under a change of use application lodged with South Tyneside Council.

The proposals submitted by Gwendoline Coffey, of Westoe, South Shields, seeks for permission to use the former Mace shop as a coffee shop.

She has said she would like to open the business from 8am to 9pm from Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays.

The application states: “I plan to hold craft workshops for small groups and initially this would be for two nights per week, but may increase due to demand.

“I cannot see any reason why a coffee shop would have an undesirable impact on the areas, as it has no conflict of interest with other local small businesses of a public house, a takeaway chip shop, a One Stop store and a hairdressers.

“As the coffee shop will be providing mainly cold food and a small amount of cooking of cakes and scones, there should be no excess of odour from the premises that may upset the local community nearby and industrial extractors should not be necessary.

“I have been in contact with South Tyneside Council offices regarding commercial waste and I am waiting to hear back regarding cost of a small weekly collection.

“I plan to recycle as much of my waste as possible via craft activities within the business, composting, and would be giving away food items that would need to be destroyed at the end of the day.

“This business has some off road parking outside and a bus stop directly outside and across the road.

“I believe the majority of the trade will be from footfall of local families and students who live and study in the area and some who will use the local bus service.”

The documents state the premises already have a toilet and no building work would be needed to change the internal structure, other then moving shelving and counters for the cafe, with an oven, units and sinks to be installed alongside fridges and freezers.