COUNCILLORS stamped their authority on their planning officers tonight and approved applications for a new caf� in March and a new pizza delivery store.

Members of Fenland District Council Planning Committee did so despite a petition from other traders claiming March had enough eateries and against the advice of their officers.

The decision also fell into line with an on line poll conducted by this newspaper which showed two thirds of readers supporting the two new enterprises.

Council officers had claimed more food outlets would “dominate” the town centre but councillors were in no mood to allow shops to stay empty.

Councillor Peter Murphy is a member of the planning committee who, ironically, has let his own family shop in Chatteris – a former menswear outlet- to a charity.

He told colleagues: “Fenland is open for business and we should encourage businesses when we can.”

Tonight’s decision means both Domino Pizza and a traditional coffee shop can open in Broad Street, even though petitions had been sent in to the council, and local caf� owners spoke out against both applications.

Planners had also claimed that too many food outlets could also affect the vitality and viability of the area.

The caf� is to be opened by Tony Kabaran, owner of Bridge House Restaurant, Chatteris, who plans a �100,000 “upmarket, traditional English coffee shop” in the former Cancer Research UK shop in Broad Street, March.

He said: “I’m not an outsider coming from London. I’m in the next town and more than 100 of my customers have asked me to move into March.

“We are not going there to put four chairs down and serve coffee, we are investing a lot of money.

“Why should units stay empty? It’s not good for anyone.”

He added: “Competition is healthy.”