THE team at Trowbridge Town Hall Arts have successfully been granted £2504 to buy a coffee machine and set up a cafe area at its base.

Tracy Sullivan, Director of Town Hall Arts, was quick to assure councillors at the Trowbridge Area Board on Thursday night that it will not be used to compete with rival coffee shops in the town.

Instead it will be for serving their regular users and visitors to its exhibition events and community groups in the town hall.

However Cllr Edward Kirk said: “I cannot support this as I think it is a commercial venture. I think it is too close to existing coffee shops.”

Mrs Sullivan said: “It is to create a community space and have a nice atmosphere but there is not a competition element to this. It won’t hit other places in town.”

Cllr David Cavill added: “I understand the concerns but I think this should be supported.”