Costa abandons plans for Totnes branch

Costa Coffee has abandoned plans for a new outlet in a small market town after local independent traders launched a campaign against it.

Totnes in Devon is famous for its wide range of locally-owned shops and already has 41 independent coffee shops.

Traders were horrified when Costa was granted planning permission to open a branch on the High Street by South Hams District Council in August.

A campaign group called No To Costa was formed and 5,700 people signed a petition against the development.

The coffee chain has now caved in to local pressure and abandoned the plans in recognition of the "long and proud history of independent retailers" in Totnes.

In an open letter, managing director Chris Rogers said he "recognised the strength of feeling in Totnes against national brands".

Costa originally announced plans to open a 70-seat cafe after wholefoods business Greenlife moved out of the building on Totnes High Street in February 2010.

The campaign against it formed three months ago and 5,700 people signed a petition opposing the plans.

One leading campaigner, Martin Turner, said he was "flabbergasted" by the "good sense" the multi-national firm had shown.

The manager and owner of Tangerine Tree Cafe said: "We are delighted. We took steps to up our game and we were prepared to compete with them.

"But we are an independent town and we don't want a clone high street.

"People come to Totnes because of the independent coffee shops and stores striving to do different things.

"The money we spend is spent on local suppliers and what we earn is spent locally so it keeps the town self-sustaining.

"With a corporate company the money would go to shareholders outside the area."

Another compaigner, Tony Kershaw, owner of the town's La Fourchette Brasserie, said: "We're happy with the decision Costa has made.

"Totnes, as most people know, is pretty independent and different as a town, and we're seeking to protect that."

Costa’s open letter to the townsfolk, informing them of the decision to withdraw, read: "Totnes is a town with a long and proud history of independent retailers.

"It has one of the lowest percentages of branded stores of any town of its size in the UK, very few empty shop fronts, as well as a very high proportion of places selling coffee.

"At its heart Costa cares about what customers want and seeks to be a force for good in communities in which it operates."

Councillor Pruw Boswell, the mayor of Totnes who also signed the open letter, said she was "euphoric", describing the campaign as a "fight worth entering".

She said: "I have to pay tribute to Costa because they took the trouble to come down and look at the town.

"Their coffee shops have their place but it's not down here. The community really came together on this one."

Another Say No campaigner, Ian Gregory, said he understood Costa had signed a 10-year lease for the vacant building prior to its U-turn.

Mr Gregory, joint-owner of Fat Lemons Cafe, said: "It's surprising that they've made the decision after everything seemed to be set.

"I've never heard of a big company like Costa doing anything like this before."

The firm currently has 19 stores in Devon and employs nearly 200 people.

It has more than 1,390 shops across the UK, and another 800 internationally.