Cafe owner forced to close when neighbours complained back in business

A cafe owner who was forced to close her business after locals complained about the smell of bacon and the noise of teacups has finally reopened.

Emma Ayles was left devastated when she had to close The Caddy Shack cafe and make eight staff redundant following a 'storm in a teacup row'.

Local residents around the cafe in Weymouth moaned that the noise from her business caused 'unacceptable harm' to their standard of living.

They claimed the sound of clinking teacups and rattling of cutlery in particular was ruining the tranquillity of the area.

Emma Ayles (pictured) said she was delighted to be trading again and relieved that 'common sense had prevailed'

Pictured: The left arrow shows where the cafe used to be located and the right shows the new location

Dorset Council sided with the residents and forced Ms Ayles, 48, to shut shop last December.

But after successfully applying to her local council, Ms Ayles has reponed her cafe in a converted shipping container 109 yards away from the homes of the complainants.

Ms Ayles, a married mother of two, said she was delighted to be trading again and relieved that 'common sense had prevailed'.

She said: 'It has been really great opening again and we have been very busy, with non-stop customers.

The Caddy Shack pictured in its old location, near the homes of the locals who complained about the smell and noise

Dorset Council sided with the residents and forced Ms Ayles, 48, to shut shop last December

The Caddy Shack Cafe at Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club in Dorset was opened in April 2022 after relocating from another site in the seaside town

'We have 12 tables and as soon as one goes another group was taking them.

'It is a relief that common sense has finally prevailed after we were shut down for something as petty as the sound of teacups and the smell of bacon.

'But that's the past now and it is time to put that behind me and look forward.

'The feedback has been really positive and we are hoping to employ 10 people.'

Officials ordered Emma to shut the Caddy Shack cafe in Weymouth, Dorset in December due to the 'unacceptable harm' it caused to the neighbours

After being told to shut the cafe, Ms Ayles submitted a new application to Dorset Council which involved relocating the business

Ms Ayles opened The Caddy Shack Cafe at Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club in Dorset in April 2022 after relocating from another site in the seaside town.

The rugby club, tenants on the land, helped her set up on the site temporarily as she sought planning permission to make the cafe permanent.

The cafe was a popular community gathering spot for walkers, school children and disabled people passing by on mobility scooters.

But three residents voiced their opposition to the application on 'noise and odour' grounds in October 2022.

After being told to shut the cafe, Ms Ayles submitted a new application to Dorset Council which involved relocating the business to a different spot in the car park of Weymouth Rugby Club

The local community rallied to her aid with letters of support and a Change.Org petition received over 4,000 signatures in a month.

The revised plans were approved after the most vocal complainant dropped his opposition to them.

Ms Ayles was forced to make eight staff redundant following the 'storm in a teacup row'

There was a celebratory mood at the weekend as dozens of locals turned up to support the packed cafe as it reopened

Responding to the revised plans, the main objector, Robert Smith, wrote earlier this year: 'As neighbours who previously objected to the position of the Caddy Shack we would like to say we are satisfied with its new location which is where we originally suggested.

'None of the surrounding neighbours wanted this business to close, we simply wanted it to be moved back towards the rugby club.

'It is only a shame that the Caddy Shack and the rugby club chose not to consult with their neighbours.'

There was a celebratory mood at the weekend as dozens of locals turned up to support the packed cafe as it reopened.

MailOnline contacted Dorset Council for comment.

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