Penarth high street change as outdoor seating parklets to go

Sian Fox of Foxy’s café has the outdoor/indoor temporary seating area outside her café and deli, and says it’s a useful place for her customers to meet.

“My customers are saying to me ‘what are we going to do? We are a group that like to meet outdoors.’ It’s so bad,” said Ms Fox.

However, parklets look to be going. Brought in in the aftermath of Covid to aid the ‘eat out and help out scheme’, Vale Council say the structures were temporary and built without consultation under extraordinary circumstances.

Mark Wilson, Vale Council Cabinet member for neighbourhood and building services said: “Given the extraordinary circumstances, they were installed without consultation and views on their presence vary.

“While some see them as beneficial to businesses and customers others have contacted the council to raise concerns about noise and the impact on parking and congestion.”

Manager of Waterloo Tea in the Waterloo building on Stanwell Road, Andrea Medgyesi, wasn’t too bothered about the parklets being removed, saying her café was responsible for their upkeep – an extra job they won’t miss too much.

“They do not really affect our business.” said Ms Medgyesi. “We did have to pay to keep the windows clean and water the plants. It was a bit of extra work for us.”

She did say it would be more favourable if they can stay through summer and added: “If we are able to put tables and chairs out there in the future, we should be alright.”

Parklets outside Foxy's Deli: The owner is angry they are getting taken down (Image: Newsquest)

Parklets were brought in as a temporary measure during Covid, but some businesses want them to stay (Image: Newsquest)

For Ms Fox, she is devastated the parklets are going.

“Lovely, old, local people like coming and planting them up,” said Ms Fox. “In exchange we give them a free jar of marmalade.”

Cllr Wilson confirmed the parklets would be going, repurposing them in schools.

“The council has decided to remove these spaces, which are the last of the Covid 19 projects in place,” said Cllr Wilson.

“We hope to repurpose them for use in schools, where similar structures serve as shelters and alfresco dining spaces.

“We will work with local businesses to coordinate their removal, providing ample notice.

“The council encourages these businesses to explore alternative outdoor trading options such as obtaining a pavement licence.”

Got a story in Penarth? Email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.