Keep local Park Café with community asset

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 20th Oct 2007

Endcliffe Park Cafe

A leading local Liberal Democrat councillor has thrown his weight behind the campaign to allow the proprietor of a local park café to stay. Council officials are set to consider the re-tendering of the popular Endcliffe Park Café next week.

A popular individual who has played an active role in the local community for a number of years currently runs the Endcliffe Park Café. He has gone out of his way to support the community and improve the park, including contributing money towards providing public toilets.

However, the Cabinet is recommended to accept the highest tender without taking into account these factors. The Labour Cabinet are due to decide who to tender the café to on Wednesday this week, there are three bidders including the existing owner.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of Liberal Democrat Group and local Broomhill Councillor is campaigning with local people for the existing proprietor to keep the tender. He is unhappy that officers have not taken into consideration how the current owner has supported the park and the local community. A petition of 825 people has been submitted in support of the campaign.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: -

"The current proprietor of the Endcliffe Park Café has gone out of his way to support the local community and to improve the park itself. He is a real asset for the park. As a council we should recognise this and, in line with the wishes of local people, make sure he is allowed to carry on."

"I believe its wrong that council officers fail to recognise the valuable contribution made and simply recommend to accept the bid that offers the highest rent for the council."

"Myself and the local community are urging the Cabinet to discard this advice and think about the contribution the present owner has made to the local community when making their decision. Labour need to listen to local people."