A popular cafe is being forced to shut by Kirklees Council.

The Edge Cafe on Longwood Edge Road will cease to operate on April 15 following a council disagreement about its planning legality.

The move is due to an ongoing disagreement about how long the site, which sits on land called The Piggeries, has been operating as a cafe without the correct licence.

To be considered legal, the quirky tearoom, which has long been a magnet for local residents and ramblers due to its fantastic views as well as those using Salendine Nook High School’s adjacent playing fields, must have been open for at least 10 years in its current use.

Owner John Whitworth was adamant that some of its rooms had been used as a cafe seven days a week for much longer.

Mr Whitworth, said: “It’s just ridiculous and it’s bureaucracy gone mad.

“I know that I’ve been operating it as a cafe for 18 years.

“I think they may be confused because for several years I let people use an honesty box to pay for drinks and snacks.

“But three years ago I decided to hire six part time staff and expand our menu to include hot food as it was getting more and more popular.

“We get lots of people using it.”

He said that he had set up the cafe after the council said that the land must be brought back into use to prevent people throwing stones onto houses which below on Quarry Court in Longwood.

Mr Whitworth said: “I initially created the bungalow to live in then expanded it for the cafe.

“The council never said anything about it to me until 2013 and since then I have made two planning applications to officially change its use from dwelling to mixed cafe use, both of which they have refused.

Owner John Whitworth at The Edge Cafe, Longwood Edge Road, Huddersfield, which is threatened with closure.

“I just don’t see what their problem is – it is providing a beneficial service for people who come up here.

“I’m still going to run it as a bookable function room and for the other outdoor events we have been doing, such as the hog roast and bonfire pie and peas night but it won’t be able to do the simple thing of just provide people with a place for a brew.”

Council planning officers said that they found insufficient evidence to prove it had been used as anything but a house until some time under 10 years ago.

A council spokesperson said: “We first investigated after we received complaints from the public of it opening without planning permission.

“The café owner’s initial attempt to obtain planning application was refused as the location, access and parking arrangements were unacceptable.

“The owner was also unable to satisfy us that the café had been open a sufficient number of years for it to become lawful.

“In such circumstances, whilst the we will always support businesses where possible, the effect of them operating without planning permission must also be consider. We felt the location, access and parking would create major problems and issued an enforcement notice requiring the café to close. Recently the owner was unsuccessful in an appeal to quash the Enforcement Notice and must now close the café by April 15.”