A BRITISH-themed Spotswood cafe has had to fork out $5300 to seek Hobsons Bay Council’s permission to put 48 chairs upstairs.
Duchess of Spotswood, in the quaint Hudsons Road shopping strip, last week tweeted its discontent about the fees the council imposed.
Owners Andrew Gale and Bobby Green spent $1500 in planning application and advertising fees and a further $3800 on a traffic report.
Mr Gale said he felt the council should have done its own traffic assessment.
“I don’t think we should have had to pay for it all. I think the council should be putting in some kind of structure to help this small part of Melbourne grow and that includes small businesses.
“I think small business, especially in up-and-coming areas, should be given more of a hand.”
Hobsons Bay’s planning and environment director, Peter Gaschk, said the council was obliged to give notice of every application unless it was satisfied that granting the permit “would not cause detriment to any person”.
“The application for 87 Hudsons Road seeks a significant reduction in car parking,” he said.
“The council is therefore legally obliged to notify all potentially affected parties and request a specialist traffic report.”
