More than a thousand people are backing a campaign to allow two popular cafés to keep their outdoor seating areas after Leeds City Council told the owners to get rid of them.
Grön Kafe and Hessian on Roundhay Road in Oakwood installed decking outside their cafés last summer, with the businesses saying the additions have significantly boosted footfall.
However, retrospective planning permission for both was later rejected by the council, who claimed the decking 'has significantly harmed the visual amenity, character and appearance of this conservation area'.
Will Pugh, who owns Hessian, told LeedsLive that he feels as though small independent businesses are being penalised.
'I employ around 25 members of staff, but if we lose this outside area I would have to consider closing my business'
"Their only reason for rejecting it was that it doesn't fit in with the conservation area guidelines in Oakwood," said the 40-year-old.
"Why is it a problem? Who is it offending? We have just had Ed Sheeran and the high street was buzzing. It seems so contradictory to hurt independent businesses.
"It generates so much money for us. It's tough enough as it is. We put a lot of money into these businesses.
"I've got a young family and I employ around 25 members of staff, but the bottom line is that if we lose this outside area I would have to consider closing my business. It is that serious."
Together with the owners of Grön Kafe, Will launched an online petition to try and show how much support there is in the local area for the outdoor decking. Within two days, it has already gained more than 1,000 signatories.
To view the petition, head to the Change.org website.
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