A Budleigh Salterton councillor has called for the district council to use ‘common sense’ next week when making a decision about the town’s Longboat cafe. Roger Bowen believes the proposed design could be ‘disastrous’ for the town.

Councillor Roger Bowen believes many want to see the seafront caf� developed – but not into the glass-fronted state-of-the-art restaurant proposed by Longboat caf� owners Brent and Jane Hushon.

Cllr Bowen said the proposed two-storey, glass-fronted building could result in ‘disastrous damage’ for Budleigh Salterton’s seafront.

Cllr Bowen, whose recent planning application to build a state-of-the-art home on land at Summerlands caused controversy in Budleigh, said: “Everyone in the town has an opinion about the future of the Longboat and it is quite true that most wish to see a limited development there.

“The terrible thing about this tragedy is that everybody - planners, district council, town council and the ordinary citizen seem incapable of fending off a really awful misapplication of planning law. Future generations will come to despise them for their cowardice

“As so often in Budleigh, there has been the usual vociferous scream of rage that always surfaces in the face of any significant development proposal.

“Only rarely has this achieved the success that was sometimes merited. In this case, it has been counter-productive because the public really wants an improvement to the caf�.

“The planners were disposed to agree to a small development and most wanted it. But, instead, it has now emerged as an enormity and one that is dangerous and damaging.”

The district council planners approved the Longboat cafe application in principal on June 1. Confirmation of permission is expected to be granted next Tuesday, October 19, now an application to list the building has failed.