Costa Coffee reveals plans to open its THIRTEENTH branch within two miles of city centre, sparking outrage from locals
Residents and traders in the Essex city fear independent cafes will be squeezed out
CHELMSFORD has been dubbed the Costa Capital of the UK after plans emerged for the THIRTEENTH branch within two miles of the city centre.
Anger is brewing among locals who fear independent cafes will be squeezed out as the British coffee giant opens yet another two stores.
There are already 11 Costas in the picturesque Essex city, including standalone Costa Coffee shops and outlets within Tesco, Waterstones, WH Smith and the Odeon cinema.
There is also Costa Coffee on sale at the train station, a college campus and Esso garages.
Incredibly the firm has announced plans for another branch in the city centre and one in a new retail park.
Chelmsford already has two Starbucks cafes, a Pret a Manger, a Caffe Nero and a Bb's Coffee & Muffin serving corporate coffee in the High Street.
Wayne Thompson, who owns independent sandwich and drink shop Slice, said: "It's absolutely overkill.
"I personally think that it's beginning to make all town centres look the same.
"I just don't understand how they can keep getting planning permission, but that's down to the council really.
"There are too many and it doesn't give us independents much of a chance."
Resident Callie Dorling, 26, said: "There's quite a lot of coffee shops, we just don't need so many.
"They are everywhere you go. I prefer the more one-off quirky coffee shops to the big chains."
Another local, Jane Collins, added: "It is a bit ridiculous.
"I was joking to my friends the other day it is like living in Costa Capital.
"How much coffee do we need?"
Chelmsford City Council declined to comment on the plans, which are currently being examined by planning officials.
If approved, the city would overtake wealthy Cheltenham, Gloucs, which was branded Britain's coffee capital when the 11th branch of Costa opened there earlier this year.
Chelmsford MP Vicky Ford denied locals were being squeezed out and claimed the high number of stores was proof of the Costa's innovation.
She said: "Chelmsford is the UKs newest city and has many bustling shops, cafes and restaurants.
"There is a very busy cafe society. As well as Costa and other well known brands, there are a large number of independent coffee shops which are very extremely busy and popular.
"In Chelmsford, Costa have been quite innovative and licensed coffee shops in hotels, supermarkets and near to some new housing developments.
"These sites often don't directly compete with the locations where traditionally many of small vendors are based."
Costa, with more than 2,000 stores in the UK, is owned by hospitality giant Whitbread, which also owns the Premier Inn hotel chain.
A spokesman said: ";As the UK’s favourite coffee shop and a popular presence in and around the Chelmsford area we are delighted to be opening two news stores over the coming months, giving our customers greater choice as to where they can enjoy their favourite Costa drink."
The chain said the two new branches would create up to 20 jobs and "play an active role in the local community".
In June a BBC Watchdog probe fond drinks from Costa, Starbucks and Caffe Nero contained traces of poo.
In July a Costa Coffee worker refused to serve a Good Samaritan because he planned to give his sandwich and drink to a homeless man.
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