FEARS for a small town’s cafes have been raised after plans were put forward for a new coffee shop.

But residents have welcomed the idea of a wine bar by night and new jobs for the area.

Daniel Welch has put in plans to turn an empty building, in Manningtree High Street, into a place for people to enjoy tea and cake at lunch or a few beverages in the evening.

Residents have voiced a range of objections and supporting comments.

Erin Course, of Harwich Road, Mistley, said in her objection: “I’m all for bringing new shops to Manningtree High Street because the town is dying. However, we already have multiple coffee shops.

“It’s all well and good putting another one in, but what about the others?

“Filling one empty shop and having the possibility of closing two more because there simply isn’t enough trade for all these places to survive.

“For most of the these little shops it’s their livelihood. They aren’t flooded with cash, they’re struggling to get through each month as it is.

“And with addition to another coffee shop, this will more than likely send them under.”

The town currently has Cafe Rio, Hobson’s Deli and Cafe, The Bakery and Scoffers.

Deborah Burrows, of Oxford Road, Manningtree, who supported the application, said: “It’s good to see that people are still willing to take a shot and try and make something of our fast fading high street.

“I fully support this application.

“We don’t have a wine bar in Manningtree, and I would much prefer to go to a wine bar than a busy pub which we have at the moment and its very positive that they are considering parents with children during the day with a coffee shop.

“It’s also great that this will create jobs for local people."