Costa Coffee gets the ok for Melksham (From Wiltshire Times)

Costa Coffee gets the ok for Melksham

9:32am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Adam Care

Melksham High Street will get its first coffee shop chain, after an application for a Costa Coffee store was approved by Wiltshire Council.

Bristol-based Costa franchisee South West Coffee applied to convert the former Clinton Cards and Fotostop stores at 47 and 49 High Street into a coffee shop with seating for over 60.

In its notification of the decision the council said: “The proposed re-use of the two vacant commercial units would result in making a valued and positive contribution to the economic vitality and viability of Melksham’s Town Centre.

“There are no reasons to refuse it on planning grounds.”

The application had been opposed by some business owners in the town, who feared the introduction of a Costa could force others out of business. Simon Hedley, owner of CJ’s in the Littlebrook centre, said: “If it comes it comes, we can’t do anything about it now. If they survive then good on them, it’s the people of Melksham who will make the decision now.”

South West Coffee were unable to confirm when the shop will open, or how many jobs it will create.