Thai cafe design described as 'very Chinese' in planning disagreement

Chippenham town councillors became locked in a planning debate, labelled “churlish” by one committee member, over designs for a new Thai cafe at The Bridge.

The planned new venue, WaraThai Cafe, is due to open at the closed Lucky Eat Chinese takeaway after a proposal for alterations to the shopfront signage was lodged.

Officers advised councillors a planned first-floor sign was “inappropriate and out of character” with the street due to its height and scale.

According to the shopfront design guide, signage should not be oversized or extend above the bottom of a first-floor window.

Since the planning committee meeting, the design has been altered to comply with these policies.

The original proposal for the new signage, labelled inappropriate by council officers (Image: Markstone Architectural Services)

But the design sparked debate between councillors on whether they should recommend that Wiltshire Council reject the plans.

During this debate, Cllr William Douglas opposed the new signage, claiming it would change “the ambience of the area.”

He said: “It will break the guidance that has been offered for the particular area.

“It’s a very Chinese item and it’s in a reserved area so I don’t see how we can go against the guidance.

“We have to think of the general Chippenham area and the ambience created, and this ambience is certainly oriental… it’s way out of kilter with the building.”

Others claimed the committee should support the new venue.

Cllr Adam Ward said: “I don’t want to go so far as to object because frankly, the front of that building doesn’t look that special to me.

“I think the aesthetic that’s being proposed for the sign is quite a good piece of design, though I appreciate you don’t want to set the principle.”

The revised plans for the signage that were submitted after the committee's debate (Image: Markstone Architectural Services)

Cllr David Poole was one of three councillors to support a motion to not object.

He added: “I don’t think it’s that objectionable, I think it would be a little churlish of us to recommend turning this down.

“We should be encouraging businesses to open up, it’s not an offensive sign… let the business get on, open up and regenerate the area.”

Despite many supporting the business itself, councillors voted six to three to recommend rejecting the proposal.

Cllr Matthew Short said: “I agree with the objection… but we welcome a new restaurant opening in town.

“It’s the nature of the signage we’re objecting to, we welcome a new business, if they get the signage right that’s great.”

WaraThai was approached for comment.