BATTLE lines have been drawn with separate groups campaigning for and against plans for a Costa coffee shop in Dartmouth.

The clash has brought strong feelings from both camps who are collecting signatures at on line petitions – and the Chronicle has even set up its own poll as the great coffee debate intensifies.

Meanwhile, Costa’s proposals will be debated at a meeting of the town council’s planning committee on Wednesday, November 16.

As reported last week, a petition opposed to the Costa plan for an empty shop in Victoria Road was set up and has attracted more than 1,000 signatures. Now two further petitions supporting the coffee shop have been set up by Ashley Winsor, calling for ‘change in the town’. They have so far attracted more than 100 signatures.

Former chamber of trade chairman and business improvement district co-founder Paul Reach is also supporting the campaign in favour of the proposed Costa cafe, posting on Facebook: ’Big investment, more jobs with career potential, increased footfall for all.’ He added: ’I do not believe in protectionism!’

Commenting on the website petition in favour of the Costa cafe, Ellie Heathcote, from Stoke Fleming, said: ‘We want a coffee shop that opens longer hours and new all-year-round jobs.’

Rob Skeggs, of Dartmouth, said: ‘Don’t let Dartmouth get left behind again! Every time someone wants to change something in the town, there is always opposition.

‘Embrace the jobs and opportunities that a national chain could bring to the town, instead of an empty shop or another gallery.’

Joanna Squires, of Dartmouth, commented: ‘Nothing worse than seeing empty shops. Costa is welcome here. We need normal shops that we all know and love, not boaty shops or art galleries. And if you don’t agree don’t spend your money in there when it gets here. Simple.’

Dartmouth’s Jamie Caple said the town relies on the tourism trade, who need to eat and drink, so a coffee shop would be better than an estate agent or high end clothes shop that locals in Dartmouth can’t afford to shop at. And it should create between 10 and 12 jobs.

Phillip South, of Dart­-mouth, added: ‘It’s time Dartmouth joined the 21st century. Too many overpriced Mary Berry-style cafes in this town that is run by old fuddy duddies out of touch with ordinary people.’

Craig Keating, of Dartmouth, wrote: ‘Totally what we need in the town, without a doubt.’

Alan Spencer, of Burnham-on-Sea, said ‘We see no reason why Costa, a reputable company, should not enhance Dartmouth as they do anywhere else they trade.

‘They provide a good service and excellent product. They are welcoming to everyone who crosses their threshold. They will be good competition for existing businesses! What would you prefer, a charity shop or an empty shop?’

Jade Skelton, of Swindon, added: ‘I regularly visit the town and think it would benefit heavily from a more up-to-date coffee shop like Costa.

‘The town is falling behind the times and in desperate need of somewhere different to stop and socialise over coffee or for some lunch. It will create so many new jobs and increase the number of people likely to spend more time – and therefore money – in the rest of the town too.’

Meanwhile, backing the ‘no’ petiton, Val Depledge, of Dartmouth, said: ‘Don’t waste your time Costa. We already have loads of brilliant independent coffee venues in our town which we love, which we support regularly, and which we will continue to support regularly.

‘So we don’t want you and we certainly don’t need you. Just go away, leave us alone and don’t waste our time either.’

Lesley Berkeley, of Black­awton, added: ‘I love Dartmouth because of all its independent shops – let’s keep it that way!’

And Hilary Fyson, from Dartmouth, said: ‘Dartmouth’s charm for visitors and residents alike is not only its beautiful setting but in its unique, individual small businesses – say no to a boring look-alike town centre and yes to local enterprise.’

Costa said this week it was hoping to invest in Dartmouth and play a key role within the community as well as offering more choice and create new year-round jobs. A spokesman for the company was also anxious to put right some of the misinformation that was circulating on social media concerning its application.

He said the shop would be creating full and part-time jobs within a clear career structure for staff.

 ‘We employ more than 200 people in Devon and, nationally, some 65 per cent of our employees on our training schemes are promoted to more senior roles,’ he said.

‘If our application is approved, we will create approximately 10 new jobs and support these roles with a full package of career opportunities.

‘These are new jobs. We are not targeting taking any staff away from any other local business, as has been suggested.’

He said Costa invested in the local community, as well as overseas where its coffee came from.

‘Our coffee shops support all manner of local community and charity work, provide great places and facilities for use by local groups and clubs, and our staff work very hard to make a positive contribution to the area,’ he said.

‘Just because we are a national brand does not mean we don’t commit to the communities in which we operate, so to suggest that, as some have done, is to oversimplify and is neither accurate nor a fair reflection of the great work our teams do in their local communities.’

Costa itself was founded in Lambeth in London in 1971 and Whitbread has traded for more than 270 years. Some people have confused Costa with Starbucks and the tax issues that were widely reported, he said. Costa, as part of Whitbread, is a UK registered company and pays UK tax.

He added: ‘Costa is very much for everyone. We don’t target a particular demographic, age or profile of customer but believe in serving great coffee and providing a great choice for those people who like what we do and how we do it.’