Coffee giant Starbucks’ scheme divides Kelso opinion – BBC News

Plans by coffee giant Starbucks for their second cafe in the Borders have divided opinion – and sparked warnings of potential business closures.

It opened its first site in Galashiels last year and is now targeting land which has been unused for about 30 years near a Sainsbury’s supermarket in Kelso.

There are currently 10 independent coffee shops and cafes in the town as well as a number of hotels serving coffee.

The proposals have seen a string of representations – both for and against – sent to Scottish Borders Council (SBC).

Local councillor Tom Weatherston is supportive of the plans and said he would not back them if he thought they would have a negative impact.

“For over 30 years this site has sat empty and it’s got worse and worse, and we’ve had numerous complaints about the state of the place,” he said.

“We’ve now got a chance to get it redeveloped and someone has come forward with a proposal.

“I appreciate that it isn’t suiting certain people, who think we have too many cafes, but I don’t see that because a drive-thru is a different offering.”

Mark Hay, who owns the Queenshead Hotel, feels differently.

He believes that the proposed location would draw business away from the town centre.

“I am against this because I fear it will threaten the small cafes in the town,” he said.

“We are a small town that relies heavily on tourism, Kelso Races, the fishing and the showground during the summer to bring in trade, and businesses are under huge pressure after the pandemic and rising energy costs, so many are just hanging on.

“As soon as you start putting the shopping outside the town, then it kills a town centre.”

On the streets of Kelso, views are mixed.

Retired Lewis Hamon said he felt it was not in keeping with Kelso and also had concerns about the traffic generated in an already busy area.

“We have plenty of great wee coffee shops and places serving during the day,” he said.

“So, I don’t think it’s a good fit.”

Regular visitors to the Borders, Annette and John James from Milngavie, said they feared it could detract from what brings them to the area.

“We’ve been here a couple of nights and it’s a lovely town, but I don’t think a Starbucks is a good idea,” said Annette.

“I think it would take away from all these lovely little cafes.”

However, recently retired Peter Connor said the town was “big enough to cope” with a new store – just as it had when Greggs came to town.

“The town is busier than ever, and if a Starbucks creates jobs, helps attract more people to Kelso and is out of the town centre, then I think that would be good because it will be limited more to drive throughs,” he said.

Esther Cartledge added: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it coming.

“I think the younger people will use a Starbucks, but older people like me will probably still use the cafes because they are parts of our community.”

That view was echoed by Alice Rutherford, Gabriel Anderson and Stephanie Richards who were in town with the Border Links charity which supports inclusion for people with learning disabilities

“I think Starbucks would be a good thing for the town, because it adds to the services in the town,” said Alice, from Kelso.

“We love coffee and we will use Starbucks, but we use the other cafes too because we like them.”

Brothers Oliver and Robert Pickford and their friend Keir Mooney also welcomed the proposal.

“Kelso needs more places like Starbucks in my opinion,” said Oliver.

“I live here and you tend to feel that Gala has had a lot of new infrastructure in recent years, and Kelso hasn’t had much.”

The coffee company said that it believed it could work alongside local businesses in the area.

“Starbucks, and our licensee partner in the area, the family-owned, locally based Explorer Group, are committed to building relationships with the communities we serve and being a good neighbour,” said a spokesperson.

“We believe independent stores can thrive along with Starbucks, leading to a vibrant coffee scene benefitting us all.”