PROPOSED CAFE EXTENSION AT RSPB WETLAND RESERVE WILL HAVE SUPERB VIEWS OVER LAGOON

Image supplied by Addison Rees to indicate the proposed look of the cafe extension 

A NEW café extension is in prospect for the visitor centre at the RSPB reserve at Frampton Marsh, near Boston in Lincolnshire.

The planning application was submitted to Boston Borough Council last July but not approved until November after the Environment Agency raised flood risk concerns. 

However, the authority indicated that it would pause its objection subject to either "the provision of an area of safe refuge or submission of an appropriate flood warning and evacuation plan to the local planning authority".

Both these conditions are understood to have been met, and RSPB staff will be trained on flood evacuation procedures.

The café will be a modular single-storey, flat-roofed building that will link with the existing visitor centre/hide.

The building's external walls will be timber-clad, its roof will be in sheet materials, and it will have extensive areas of glazing in its north-eastern elevation (which will have superb views over  the lagoon and reed beds), plus four glazed doors and additional windows in its south-western elevation. 

It will measure approximately 21m x 8.8m  and stand approximately 2.8m high.

Curiously, despite the reserve being run by the RSPB, the application still had to undergo an independent ecology assessment which was carried out by Sophie King of Bowland Ecology which is based in Clitheroe, Lancashire.

In her report, she  cautioned: "Construction of the newcafé and the car park extension has the potential to disturb nearby breeding and passage / over-wintering birds.

"The wetlands, open water and reedbed are considered particularly sensitive as they provide functionally linked land with The Wash Special Protection Area. 

"To avoid impacts, the timing of any works with the likelihood of resulting in disturbance should avoid sensitive periods. 

"This includes the breeding period and during cold periods in the winter when flushing birds would cause them to expend valuable energy reserves." 

Ms King recommended that construction should take place  between the months of September and November (inclusive), but it seems this has not been possible.

Mitigation measures suggested by the ecologist have included the installation of a sound and visual barrier between the works area and sensitive wetlands. 

She continued: "Monitoring during construction should be conducted by the RSPB and contractors should be flexible and adapt to RSPB advice."

Agent for the scheme has been David Addison of Worcester-based AddisonRees Planning Consultancy Ltd which last year worked on similar café projects at two other RSPB reserves - those at Llandudno Junction in Conwy and at the charity's HQ in Sandy, Bedfordshire 

Mr Addison's report states: "The visitor centre has been able to offer self-service hot drinks by means of a hot water dispenser, with cold drinks available from a small fridge. 

"Cold snacks such as crisps and cakes have also been available. 

"Between March and October locally produced ice-creams and sorbets are stocked in a freezer unit."

His report continues: "Outside the visitor centre, there are five picnic benches at varying distances from the main entrance.

"The proposed café will replace and build upon the current food and drink availability at the site as well as providing a more comfortable indoor area for visitors and dedicated WC facilities.

"Furthermore, the building will also incorporate a small office to assist in the RSPB’s management and administrative duties."

Proposed opening hours of the new café facilities are 9:30am to 4:30pm seven days a week, with occasional evenings for events.

The project did not go before Boston Borough Council's planning committee, but was determined by case officer Simon Eldred under delegated powers.

In his approval report, he states: "Within the countryside, small-scale development to support the visitor economy will be allowed  provided the proposals do not conflict with neighbouring land uses, are in keeping with the character of the locality and demonstrate a functional link with an existing rural attraction.

"The proposed café  is undeniably small in its scale and has a clear link with an existing rural attraction - the RSPB reserve and visitor centre. 

"The application site and its surroundings, though remote from any settlement, do not have a wildor lonely visual character, with the neighbouring visitor centre building, cinder-surfaced footpaths, a picnic area and, in the wider landscape, a car park, hides and large pieces of artwork. 

"In this context, it is considered that the proposed building will not appear out-of-place, particularly given its modest size and proposed materials."

The target date for completion of the project is not known - nor whether a celebrity twitcher will be invited to cut the ribbon at the formal opening.

The  picnic area and the section of the reedbed trail which runs through it are closed until further notice to allow the project to progress

The Frampton Marsh reserve covers about 170 hectares.

The entrance to the visitor centre as it is now

General view of the 170-hectare reserve which is a magnet for wading birds and raptors, some of them rare  

The birds have their own café  so why not one also  for their many admirers?