A company has been given the all-clear to trade from the forecourt of its Clacton town centre bakery - shattering a policy aimed at halting the practice in the resort.

Baker's Oven in Station Road appealed against Tendring Council's decision to reject its controversial pavement cafe scheme and won.

Government inspector Eric Searle felt the move was a welcome one and would add variety and vitality to the bustling area of the town.

"I can understand the council's concern about restricting forecourt trading as the retailing of goods from some forecourts tends to be untidy and intrusive," he said.

"However, I believe there is a considerable difference between the display, or stacking of goods for sale, and the provision of tables and chairs for customers as an outside seating area in the form of a sidewalk cafe."

Tendring councillors were last night dismayed by the decision which they feared would set a dangerous precedent and could change the face of the town centre for shoppers and pedestrians.

However, they were told that the council could turn to other powers available to them to control the situation.

Planning officer Peter Le Grys said: "Part of the land is the public forecourt owned by the council and controlled by them.

"Our policy aims to restrict forecourt trading in the town centre and has stood for many years in an attempt to allow free passage for pedestrians."

Roy Smith (Lab, Golf Green) said: "It will set a dangerous precedent and I am concerned that we could now have this type of activity all over the town centre.

"It would be to the detriment of pedestrians and their use of the pavement."

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