Planning row Popular restaurant told to remove outdoor seating

COUNCIL officials have ordered a popular Bristol restaurant in a newly pedestrianised street to dismantle its outdoor seating - despite a staggering swell of support from almost 1,000 residents.

- Adam POSTANS

Bravas Restaurant at Cotham Hill

(Pic: Paul Gillis)

The enforcement notice by the city council’s highways team comes as Bravas tapas restaurant in Cotham Hill is still going through the process of applying for planning permission to retain its terrace.

But during ongoing talks between Bravas and City Hall bosses, the local authority has agreed a stay of execution until the planning application has been determined.

Highways and planning are two separate regimes and even if consent is granted by one, permission is also needed from the other.

The notice, which orders the structure's removal by the end of October - a deadline which will no longer be enforced - said the covered area “appears to have been erected on the public highway without lawful authority” and was an “obstruction”.

It said: “Bravas's recent application for a pavement licence to trade outside has been refused owing to the structure not being approvable.”

The notice was served just four days after the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed the restaurant had reapplied for planning permission following the council’s refusal in July.

At the time of publication on September 26, Bristol City Council’s planning portal showed the restaurant had support from 19 people with four against.