Weymouth council proposes to take over Aunty Vi's café on beach near Greenhill

Peter Townsend, 64, has run Aunty Vi’s café near Brunswick Terrace for the last 14 years, and spoke of his heartbreak upon discovering last week that Weymouth Town Council is planning to deny him the opportunity of renewing his licence when it comes to an end in March 2021.

This is despite new Covid rules introduced by central Government that give the council the option of extending the contract by a year without the usual paperwork.

Adding to his ire, it emerged that the council has been in discussions about taking over the cafe since July - and Mr Townsend said at no point was he informed about the option to extend the lease when he found out about the shock decision.

A final decision will be made at a Full Council meeting next week.

The Echo visited Aunty Vi's yesterday morning, where around 15-20 customers were sitting, socially-distanced.

Many of them spoke about the important role the cafe plays in supporting the community.

A visibly upset Peter said: "The reality of it is they are coming here to play shop keepers. They now want to buy the wooden structure and equipment from me.

My back's against the wall - I'm being put in a position where I'm considering whether to sell my soul - the poacher has become the keeper."

Mr Townsend, a father of two, explained that his son George, 24, wanted to take over the running of the café when he eventually retires.

George has now taken over dealing with the council discussions due to the level of distress it is causing his father.

"He's as devastated as I am about what we see as underhanded measures to take the business from us," Peter added.

"To make matters worse it will cost £47,500 of taxpayer's money for them to do this."

One customer, Marta Laskemazur, a care worker, said she regularly brings her clients with learning difficulties to the cafe.

Peter Townsend with customers at Aunty Vi's cafe on Weymouth Beach

She said: "It's so much more than a place for a coffee. Peter provides an important community service. It will be a big loss.

"My clients love coming here - it's like a family. Pete often feeds homeless people and has even helped them find jobs and accommodation; in the summer he acts as a tourist information centre, helping show visitors the sights. I hope the council changes its mind."

Also at the cafe was Weymouth-born former councillor Bob Russell.

He said: "I can't believe they want to do this, it's ludicrous. Every day there are around 20 retired people who meet here - the Trishaw service visits and Pete gives them ice cream.

"I just find it unbelievable. The council must've looked at the costs. It just doesn't make financial sense to snatch a person's business just so they can set up a beach hut. The council need to get their brains sorted."

Another regular customer, Colin Hoskins, said: "Peter provides an important social service - if it wasn't for him a lot of people wouldn't have food in their stomachs - this is very unfair."

Commenting on the proposals, town council bosses said the facility would be run with the benefit of local people in mind.

A spokesperson said: “Any future operation of a catering kiosk on this site by the council itself would be with the aim of generating the finances both to recoup initial investment and to reinvest in local services and facilities.

The council would also aim to operate the facility for the benefit of local residents and as a way of providing important employment and training opportunities for local people.

“When the tenant of the Brunswick Terrace beach kiosk signed the 10-year lease in 2011 they were aware that it would end in March 2021.

“Full Council will be considering the investment funding of the kiosk at next week’s meeting.”

A report to councillors says: “This kiosk offers an opportunity for the Town Council to operate its second commercial catering outlet on Weymouth beach.

“The Brunswick catering kiosk would operate alongside the Beach Office catering unit, and offer a similar menu but to a smaller scale, incorporating the same branding and marketing.

“It would follow the same principles of the beach office catering unit and would offer locally sourced products, and will be as sustainable as possible e.g. no single use plastics.

“The business plan includes details of the offer, market opportunities and appeal, investment (capital) costs, financial forecasting, adopted sustainability measures and practices, SWOT analysis, staffing arrangements and risk analysis.

“Pursuing this option provides the Town Council with an opportunity to extends its commerciality and in-house catering business.

The council can deliver an offer in keeping with the ethos and aspirations of a dynamic Town Council which has made sustainability and community engagement a priority.”

Leader of Weymouth Town Council, cllr David Harris, said: "We are looking at all of our assets as a new town council and will want to ensure that they all are seen as a community asset and used by a full range of residents.

"We also believe that we have to ensure that all of our assets give best value for money for residents, as these belong to residents,  and so we have to explore all options in how they are used.”

The town council spokesman added: "The proposed delivery of the Brunswick kiosk is not a new contract to the Town Council.

The Town Council has an opportunity to provide services in-house or via contracted services on land that it owns or manages.

"The council will continue to consider commercial opportunities where there are demonstrable benefits in doing so in the future. We would reassure customers that we have every intention of ensuring that the service they appreciate is enhanced and not reduced by any actions we take.

"Full Council will be considering the level of financial investment for the purchase of a kiosk, equipment etc required to directly operate the Brunswick kiosk next week."