What next from Midlothian Council?

Seems that the cooncil want to close down a new cafe in Penicuik as there are too many food outlets. Funny how they are happy for loads of Chinese takeaways to operate but want to shut this one. Closing toilets, cutting services etc when they should be cutting back on highly-paid officials who do nothing for the area
https://www.facebook.com/salsas.diner

I find it a bit difficult to believe that the council can close any lawful business business simply because there are too many similar businesses in the area.

There must be some other, more compelling reason than the one given.

I'm not a member of Facebook. Does the site give more details if you Log On?

I found this elsewhere.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/grant-salsa-s-diner-in-penicuik-a-license.html

Grant Salsa's Diner in Penicuik a licence????

If it turns out they've been trading, preparing and selling food without the correct permissions.......... Well, what do they expect?

I did wonder about this but a quick check on the planning site tells you the real story behind this
https://planning-applications.midlothian.gov.uk/OnlinePlanning/centralDistribution.do?action=dispatch&caseType=Application&caseNo=12/00693/DPP

You would think that people would know about planning permission by now. Of course it does mean that no one else should be allowed to open any food outlets in the town in the future, unless there are closures!

Oh dear, oh dear!

After spending a lot of money doing the place up, she opened in June...... and applied for change of use in October.

One of the letters in support of the application suggests that the Peni Deli is in Administration again. If that's true, maybe Mrs. Porteous's application should be reconsidered.

Yes, there are far too many eateries in Penicuik, but most of the takeaways only open at night. With the Peni Deli out of the picture, where else can the workboots-and-overalls-brigade and white-van-man get a quick bacon roll and a coffee? After all, it's a worthwhile and important part of the market.

(Okay, there's The Neuk and that place where R S McColl's used to be, but they're both hidden away from the main roads - Mr. Workboots-and-Overalls and Mr. White-Van-Man would never know they were there.)

So I think I'm changing my attitude to the place. Either through ignorance of the rules or seriously bad advice, Mrs. Porteous has landed in a right mess - and a bloody expensive one, bearing in mind that a lot of money has been spent. So rather than see her out of pocket and a "downmarket" but needed wee bacon roll facility disappear, I think I'll sign the petition in support.

I had a look at the Midlothian Planning site and no recent applications for 28 High Street (former Clydesdale bank) which seems rather strange when they are busy working away in there. If it is going to be used as a cafe then they will need change of use permission though if the councils had their way you would need permission to move a chair (with appropriate fees of course)
Does anyone know anything else about this?

My understanding was that Building Insulation Services are taking over the Clydesdale Bank building. They'got people working on the place at the moment.

Unfortunately there have been some basic errors made either through stupidity or being badly advised. In saying that we should all (inc midlothian council) be encouraging anyone willing to open a business, ok retrospective planning and all that ..but we are dealing with human beings so hopefully common sense will prevail!

A wee bird told me today that Salsa's has been granted approval.

Apparently so, the 'Penicuik Cuckoo' reported this earlier in the week.... Still don't get what all the fuss is about though...