CAFÉ chain Costa has resubmitted its application for an outlet in Minehead less than a week after district councillors turned down the same plan because it included outdoor seating.

West Somerset Council's planning committee ruled that the tables and chairs would be "visual clutter" within the Wellington Square Conservation Area and turned down Costa's application when they met last Thursday.

But the firm resubmitted the same plan this week in the hope that providing additional information about the seating could persuade councillors to change their minds.

Andrew Goodchild, the council's planning manager, said councillors would be expecting Costa to submit additional information which would specifically address the reason for refusing the application the first time around.

The committee refused to give planning permission on the grounds that "the introduction of tables and chairs to the front of the building, resulting in visual clutter, would harm the character and appearance of the conservation area".

That area covers a large part of the town centre, including Wellington Square, Park Street, The Parade and The Avenue, so the Costa ruling could have serious repercussions for any new businesses hoping to have an outdoor seating area in the town.

Planning officers had advised councillors to give approval for the Costa outlet in the former Blockbuster store and could still face a lengthy legal battle if the resubmitted application is refused and the coffee giant decides to contest the ruling.

Officers felt the proposals for a coffee shop, takeaway and an outdoor seating area would not have any adverse impact on the conservation area but would, instead, add to the "visual vibrancy" of the shopping area.

In a report to the committee, they said: "There are other canopies in the vicinity and to the east there are a number of shops that have outside seating areas so these elements already form part of the character and appearance of the area.

"The setting of the nearby listed buildings will not be harmed due to the distance involved and as [the proposed Costa site] is not read as an integral part of Wellington Square in that it is separated from it by a busy road.

"Overall, it is considered that the proposed use of the ground and first floor of the building and proposed changes to the building will preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area."

But councillors disagreed, and felt Costa's plans for 16 chairs and eight tables outside the coffee shop were a step too far.

They said the redundant video rental store, which has been empty since May last year, was in a prominent location and the site needed to be protected.

However, they did not object to the principle of changing the use of the shop to include both takeaway sales and a sit-in café.

And in a separate application, Costa was given planning permission to put up signs at the premises.