'Let them eat cake'

The Kelly's kitchen saga took a farcical turn this week with a decision taken at Thursday's planning meeting to endorse the County's phase 1 scheme which means the potential closure of this successful business.This concluded from a debate which included only three voting councillors two of whom ignored the fact that phase 2 of this project could accommodate the refurbished library and a new Kelly's thus maintaining the vitality of the High Street so sadly depleted at present. This decision did not reflect in any way the opinion of the Christchurch Borough Council but was based on the premise that if the cafe wanted to stay in business it should move somewhere else. Just to add more silliness to the debate was an e-mail sent by a Liberal Democrat County Councillor describing the cafe in language not heard since 'Keeping up Appearances' disappeared from our TV screens. The newly found culinary expert Mrs Bucket criticised the Echo for reporting to levels of stupidity and by describing the cafe in such intemperate language slapped down the 12000 people who signed the original petition and the 6000 who have added their concerns in the last couple of weeks. A bit like 'let them eat cake' I dare say the said Councillor will be offering her new found services of culinary critic to the forthcoming Christchurch Food Festival. Despite all of this and encouragingly the County at the planning committee meeting the following day, deferred the planning decision following intervention from Councillor Griffiths and Jameson who both spoke eloquently in support of the business. The liberals, having had a wake up call, cancelled a very important dental appointment and attended. Nice of them really! So the saga continues.