Council faces food fight
A group of Newcastle business people has called on the city council to drop its “one-size-fits-all” restaurant and cafe footpath dining policy. They want the ruling, that all tables and chairs must be on the kerbside of footpaths, removed so some proprietors can have seating on the shop side of footpaths. Consultant Brian Eastoe addressed the council last week on behalf of the Restaurant and Caterers Association, the Newcastle Alliance and several restaurateurs. Mr Eastoe said the council should decide outdoor seating arrangements case by case, encouraging greater diversity and considering pedestrian flows and motor vehicle volumes near individual establishments. Mary McElhinney, of Arrivederci cafe, at The Junction, told The Herald the policy was endangering diners, obscuring the vision of motorists, inconveniencing pedestrians and costing her business money. Newcastle Herald, April 14.
