Good evening everyone, and thank you sending this response along from the Owner
of the Cafe Bus, William.
From the response included, it looks like the owner has taken into account a
number of the concerns raised in addition to some further initiatives to
strengthen connections with the community.
Especially in consideration of the waste disposal, recycling and considerate
behaviour of guests, customers and visitors to the Bus Cafe.
If these concerns are genuinely and fully followed through on, as they are
described I believe this could show a significant change in many of the issues
that have been affecting residents in the nearby community for some time.
I would suggest to everyone that we could consider changing our Formal
Representation from:
- From a Full Objection
To
- Concerns Raised, with Recommendations
As part of this, I would also suggest that we recommend to the Planning
Department, these commitments are included as Requirements if the Planning
Application is approved.
If members agree, we could contact the Planning Department to update our
Consultation Response before the end of this week.
If member would also have any views to include, and particularly Pauline as
residing closest to and within one of the communities that has been most
closely affected?
Sincerely,
Jonathan
________________________________________
From: william rae [willear2003@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: 10 July 2018 15:24
To: Cpcc E-mail; P. Brown; Julie-Anne Butchart - Castlehill & Pittodrie; Smith,
Jonathan Aitken; Stephanie Smith; Karen finch
Subject: Fw: Re: FW: Application 180900/DPP
see the e-mail above for the ownr Highlander Cafe Bus what are think about this
W.Rae
----- Forwarded message -----
From: ramona obafemi <ramona.obafemi@xxxxxxxxx>
To: William Rae <willear2003@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, 10 July 2018 14:11:15 BST
Subject: Re: FW: Application 180900/DPP
Dear Mr Rae,
I made an application for a planning permission for a double decker bus cafe on
Beach Esplanade.
I have a few comments on the concerns raised and was wondering if you could
kindly look trough and see if you could possibly reconsider the objection.
I am more than happy to work with the Comminity Council and see ways we can
work together to improve the impact tourist and locals have on the residents of
the village.
Please see below my comments:
Aberdeen Beach is an important asset to the local community. We received lots
of comments from our customers saying the novelty of the bus is a good change
to Aberdeen. They are happy there are unconventional places where they can have
a coffee or food. We treasure our beach dearly and we have an area with beach
toys people can borrow encouraging people to buy less plastic toys which often
get lost on the beach. We also encourage them to bring back any toys they find
on the beach.
We have a seating area on upper deck and the one outside too as Licence was
granted for that as well. Our clients prefer to eat in and enjoy the views of
the sea. We use porcelain plates and cups for the seating in customers. I would
say is just 5% of our clients that take away food or drinks. To limit the
impact on the environment we use compostable takeaway boxes and we are looking
at scrapping completely any plastic we might use.
We also have a contract with Aberdeen Council for waste collection and we fully
recycle and separate our waste.
We also have a contract with Aberdeen Council for waste collection and we fully
recycle and separate our waste.
As I appreciate other business might be encouraged to apply for a licence on
the road, I don’t believe our presence would be an important factor in their
decision. Additionally the licensing department could impose restrictions on
further applications and limit the number of traders if required.
Regarding the behaviour of certain tourists it is very unfortunate and we
completely disapprove of such attitude towards the residents. There are laws
however to deal with this type of behaviour and unfortunately we can’t control
how people behave. We are thinking to place info notes on the tables to advise
to treat locals courteous and not to intrude in their privacy.
The business was created with the local community at heart and we are currently
involved in a number of programmes or working on the logistics so we can add
value to it. We work with Aberdeen Help The Homeless charity where we provide
food to homeless people. We will soon become a client of CFINE and procure our
vegetables and fruits from them. We are also discussing with Cyrenians to see
if we could run a program where less fortunate kids could still enjoy a meal in
the bus as is a very popular place for families with kids.
We are doing our best to impact in a good way the local community and is
unfortunate that the objections were raised.
Now I don’t know what to do as the next meeting as you said is in August. I was
just in the process of employing our 5th and 6th staff members. I don’t know
what to do as if the permission is not granted I will have to lay off all the
staff. I can’t commit to an employment contact and promise people a job when I
the future of the business is not certain.
Hope you would kindly reconsider the objection.
Kind regards,
Ramona
The Highlander Cafe Bus
