Residents of a Cornish fishing village fear that the traditional smells of the seaside could soon be masked by the aroma of roasting coffee beans.
The Porthleven Harbour and Dock Company has applied for planning permission to build a two-storey tower in the town’s shipyard and intends to rent it out as a coffee factory.
The design of the tower is based on Porthleven’s 19th-century circular lime kiln, but locals fear the smell could alter the character of the popular resort.
Paul Sanderson, 54, said the company’s claim to filter the fumes will only reduce the smell, not remove it all together. “My major concern is that the smell given off by the roasting will be blown by the prevailing winds across most of the housing in the village, and if there are no winds the smell will just linger in the valley,” he said.
Mark Adair, 42, asked: “Does Porthleven become a less appealing holiday destination if it reeks of coffee?”
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The Porthleven Harbour and Dock Company has yet to submit a planning application but has been in talks with planners and held a public consultation.
Tom Sobey, the owner of Origin Coffee, said the company was keen to move to an “iconic” Cornish location. He said: “Porthleven is already a really important place to us — it’s where we chose to open our first coffee shop.”