CAFES and restaurants can apply to have tables and chairs outdoors following a review of street licence conditions.
The news is timely as the recent hot weather reminds traders that many customers prefer to eat al fresco - especially since the smoking ban came into place last July.
Dorothy Clarke, 70, has been selling caribbean food at the Calypso cafe in Walthamstow High Street for 12 years, and welcomes the news because she believes her business has suffered since Waltham Forest Council banned tables and chairs in the High Street.
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She said: "When they stopped us putting out tables and chairs it really brought the business down. People like to smoke and that drives them away further, but if they could eat outside they would stay. And they don't want to come in when it is hot.
"All the traders are struggling to pay the rates, so it is excellent news. I'm sure my business will prosper because it will bring crowds and when they are sitting eating it will attract more people to come in."
After the Princes Trust Town Centre Regeneration consultation in 2007, several cafes and restaurants applied to the local authority requesting a tables and chairs licence in High Street and Forest Road E17.
However, under existing conditions tables and chairs were banned, which the council decided did not, "reflect the current trading conditions", so they decided to revise the licence.
Market trader representatives were consulted with, and at a full council meeting on May 8, a majority of councillors voted in favour of the change.
Many High Street traders welcome the prospect of the modified licence but believe the High Street is too crowded on market days and they will not get permission for moveable furniture.
Manager of the First Stop Cafe Restaurant Aziz Sesen said: "When the market is on there is not enough space outside and the council don't give permission.
"If we had the space we would like to do it, if the council gives us permission."
The changes to the licence conditions will start on June 1.
Posted by: Mr khalid, walthamstow on 9:54am Tue 13 May 08
i no like this sitting becose all the parsons come and lookeded you eat and beg monys and crezy talked you and meybe take yous mobiles phone and mugeded the parson and sometime fall down over the chares
i no like this sitting becose all the parsons come and lookeded you eat and beg monys and crezy talked you and meybe take yous mobiles phone and mugeded the parson and sometime fall down over the chares
Posted by: Jonathan Baddeley, Walthamstow on 12:37pm Tue 13 May 08
Thsi is odd. Cafe Rio seems to take up half of the bottom end of the high street with tables and chairs, extending two or three shop fronts past it's own. How have they been allowed to get away with it when Euphoria next door are restricted to two small tables?
Thsi is odd. Cafe Rio seems to take up half of the bottom end of the high street with tables and chairs, extending two or three shop fronts past it's own. How have they been allowed to get away with it when Euphoria next door are restricted to two small tables?
Posted by: Eliot, Walthamstow on 5:12pm Tue 13 May 08
This will only work in the High Street on Sundays and Mondays, when there is no market. On other days it's a crazy idea.
As for Forest Road. Who would want to sit outside there, breathing in the fumes from thousands of cars and lorries belting past?
This will only work in the High Street on Sundays and Mondays, when there is no market. On other days it's a crazy idea.
As for Forest Road. Who would want to sit outside there, breathing in the fumes from thousands of cars and lorries belting past?
Posted by: nanna, chingford on 6:49am Wed 14 May 08
it isalmost impossible to navigate the pavement on market days in the High Street now.with tables and chairs as well it would be ridiculous.what about disabled access and people with either no or poor sight,it would be an accident waiting to happen.
it isalmost impossible to navigate the pavement on market days in the High Street now.with tables and chairs as well it would be ridiculous.what about disabled access and people with either no or poor sight,it would be an accident waiting to happen.
Posted by: technomist, walthamstow on 8:06am Wed 14 May 08
There is loads of room on the market for stalls and cafe tables. All they need to do is make some of the stallholders move a few yards down hill at appropriate places and they market can easily fit into the bottom end of the High Street and everyone will be happy. There are also some great cafes at the bottom which I am sure would love to have tables outside.
For it all to worj though, we need the police to do their job: get a grip on the shell game scam gangs and illegal cigarette and dvd selling gangs, and stamp down on anti-social behaviour and the alcoholics making a nuisance of themselves at the top end of the street.
I would also like to see places like Cafe Azrou able to sell ice-creams without being harrassed by the council's jobsworths.
There is loads of room on the market for stalls and cafe tables. All they need to do is make some of the stallholders move a few yards down hill at appropriate places and they market can easily fit into the bottom end of the High Street and everyone will be happy. There are also some great cafes at the bottom which I am sure would love to have tables outside.
For it all to worj though, we need the police to do their job: get a grip on the shell game scam gangs and illegal cigarette and dvd selling gangs, and stamp down on anti-social behaviour and the alcoholics making a nuisance of themselves at the top end of the street.
I would also like to see places like Cafe Azrou able to sell ice-creams without being harrassed by the council's jobsworths.
Posted by: Mr Codgers, Snaresbrook on 10:26am Thu 15 May 08
I hope if the allow blocking of the pavements with cheapo plastic chairs from B&Q, they increase their business rates to justify the increased sales area like everyone else has to when they have a frontage. The place is going down hill very fast!
I hope if the allow blocking of the pavements with cheapo plastic chairs from B&Q, they increase their business rates to justify the increased sales area like everyone else has to when they have a frontage. The place is going down hill very fast!
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