CAFE chain Costa will be coming to Minehead after securing planning permission for the venture the second time around.

The firm resubmitted its plans for an outlet in the former Blockbuster video store in Wellington Square just days after West Somerset Council's planning committee originally turned them down.

The first time around, the committee ruled that Costa's proposals for six outside tables and 12 chairs would be "visual clutter" in the Wellington Square Conservation Area.

But the firm immediately resubmitted the same plans with additional information to address the committee's concerns.

And last Thursday, the committee had a change of heart and granted planning permission.

The application was recommended for approval by the council's planning officers, who advised the committee that a café just three doors away from the proposed Costa already had an outside seating area.

"Looking at the town centre area and Wellington Square Conservation Area as a whole, there are many premises that have tables and chairs to the front of the buildings on forecourts and, in some cases, directly on the pavement," said their report.

"In general, a degree of clutter to the front of the commercial premises is an established part of the character of the conservation area."

Costa will have one table and two chairs on the Wellington Square side of the café and five tables with two chairs each fronting on to Holloway Street.

"Having regards to the number and layout of the tables and chairs along with the prevalence of existing tables and chairs in the area, the proposed tables and chairs are not, after careful thought and reflection, considered to result in excessive and harmful clutter," said the officers' report.

The Wellington Square Conservation Area covers a large part of the town centre, including Wellington Square, Park Street, The Parade and The Avenue.

Officers maintained that Costa's 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.