A petition has been started to save a well-known street cafe.
Over 1,300 people have already signed their support to Huddersfield town centre’s Latte Hut, as owner David Cooper, 49, fears it is under threat from closure.
Mr Cooper, who helped open the King Street landmark and first outside town centre cafe 12 years ago, said he has been told there are likely to be objections to his licence being renewed when it runs out next February.
One concern is that the landlord of NewRiver Retail, which owns the adjoining Packhorse Centre, or council officials could oppose his attempt to renew the cafe’s 10 year highways licence.
David said: “We just can’t work out what is going on and I feel in the dark but I believe that with what has been said that our application will be rejected and we will have to close.
“I have contacted the council for information and what they told me made me feel it was pointless to even go ahead with the licence renewal.
“They have even taken me to see two new venues for the cafe, both of which are unsuitable.
“It’s all such a shame because the cafe is busier than it’s ever been and we get 1,000 customers per week.”
He has set up a physical and online petition to urge the council to help him relocate his business.
Mr Cooper said: “I set up the petition to show people’s support for the cafe and to get the council to give proper help to us, because they’ve been quite slow moving so far.
“Now I’ve got a meeting coming up with the council to discuss more options.”
The Latte Hut was launched by the council with Mr Cooper in a bid to bring “café culture” to Huddersfield town centre.
He hopes that even if the cafe cannot be saved, he can move to another suitable venue through a new project he has been planning for a while.
“Obviously, my main aim is to save the cafe in the place it is now. I was originally planning to try open another larger venue in or around St George’s Square and work with the council and business leaders to help regenerate that area so I guess if everything else fails and I get planning permission for that I could at least re-open it there.
“It’s a great space but we could make it better by putting in cafes with a difference and quirky shops to bring more people to the town”.
A spokeswoman from the council said: “Following the receipt of an application for a licence, the council will undertake formal consultation with shop owners at the location of the Latte Hut - which would inform the decision upon renewing the licence.”
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman from NewRiver Retail said: “We haven’t objected to anything. We are working with the council but have not been involved in this situation– it’s not within our remit.”
To view the petitions, search for the Latte Hut on Facebook and click the link or visit the cafe.
