This letter appeared in this week's West Somerset Free Press. Have your say in the comments below, or email [email protected]

If someone was to say to you there’d be all day drinking and loud music in Blenheim Gardens you’d probably call them stupid. But that’s what could be coming down the line.

The clue is in the two planning applications made by Mr Wynn of Bar21,  the first in August last year which he withdrew after massive objections, and then another one three weeks ago. Both applications are essentially the same in two important respects. They both want the cafe’ fenced off from the gardens with access from the car park so it can be open when Blenheim Gardens is shut. And they both want to be open from 7am until 11pm, seven days a week. 

Whoever heard of a café in a quiet Victorian park trading these long hours, it just wouldn’t make sense would it?  Well yes it would make perfect sense if you were the applicant because I believe he wants to turn the cafe’ into a venue for other things, including hosting wedding parties. He has also applied for an extension to his alcohol licence to sell beyond his current Bar21 footprint. Maybe a coincidence? You tell me. 

Fortunately, Blenheim Gardens has been registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) and the rules state that the cafe is ancillary to the gardens i.e. it cannot operate as a separate entity.  

We also have Chris Hall the SWT deputy chief executive’s word that the cafe’ must operate within the gardens opening hours and be open by 31st March or he will cancel the lease. He and his asset team responsible for Blenheim Garden Cafe’ will have to reject this application on these grounds alone. However, don’t take my word for it, have a look at the planning application on the SWT website and see what you think, but do it before the 9th March or it may be too late to save our cafe.

Steve Martyn

Minehead