TRADERS in Stroud have united in a fight to try and stop a national coffee shop chain opening at the top of the High Street.

Costa Coffee has submitted an application to Stroud District Council for an 80-seater caf in the former New Look shop on the corner of the High Street and the Shambles.

But although other businesses are not against the arrival of the coffee chain they are demanding the empty shop should be kept instead for one of the big fashion retailers which have been showing an interest in the town.

Stroud Town Council has sent in a letter of objection to SDC and town centre manager Vicky Hancock told Stroud's Chamber of Trade this week that she had asked independent traders how they felt about Costa Coffee opening on that site.

"The general feeling was that they didn't want that particular unit to be lost to a coffee shop," she said.

John Mills who owns Mills Caf said: "That corner has been a fashion store since before the war.

"It is a most valuable shop space and it would be disasterous if it was allowed to go to a coffee shop when at least four or five large fashion plcs are looking at Stroud at the moment."

And he added: "I do not feel personally threatened by Costa Coffee but we must keep the integrity of the High Street. I do not object to Cost Coffee coming to Stroud I just don't think it should be on that site. An outlet down on Merrywalks by the cinema would be fine."

Vicky Hancock told the Chamber of Trade she had mixed feelings about the plans.

"I would like to see Costa Coffee in Stroud and would welcome them," she said. "But the location they are interested in does seem to be too big.

We have national names interested in Stroud and we would be crazy to let this site go to a coffee outlet.

"In terms of the overall health of the town I think this is the wrong site."

Jo Cope, partner in the Angel Caf said: "This site is a particular concern.

It is a large space right at the top of the High Street, if we lose it as a shop we lose the chance to attract visitors with a good clothes shop or similar, not just for now but in the future.

"Letting Costa Coffee on his site could kill Stroud's independent caf society as it is right in the middle of four coffee shops.

"If we accept this application for change of use we will be sacrificing what attracts visitors to the town - that would be disasterous for the regeneration of Stroud."

The Chamber agreed to back up the weight of the town council's objection with a letter to SDC's planning department which has already received 30 objections.

Philip Booth, a spokesperson for the Stroud District Green party who was among those protesting outside the site on Saturday said: "As a Green I am unhappy with Costa's planning application, as being a chain it will suck money out of the local economy and it risks turning Stroud into a 'clone' town where all the shops are the same as elsewhere - but let's face it, opposition to this application goes much further than that - and I hope will be cross-party.

"It is about getting the retail and non-retail mix right and quite simply this is a shopping area that already has too many cafes: most people don't go to town just for coffee, we must keep some shops for people to visit.

"There are also concerns that the Costa application may adversely effect market traders stalls in the Shambles. I would urge people to make planning objections known to Ebley Mill before the end of the month."

A spokesman for Costa said yesterday: " Costa believes there is a need for the service we provide in Stroud and it is our intention to become a welcoming addition to the town centre for locals and visitors to STroud alike. "

SDC planning officer Will Bridges said the matter would be presented to councillors for a decision at a committee meeting in March.