A pop up cafe has been given a street vending permit, despite neighbours claiming the business “lowered the tone”.

Today a St Edmundsbury Borough Council licensing committee granted Dolly Green’s Pop-up Catering in Abbeygate Street, Bury St Edmunds, permission to put two tables and eight chairs outside.

The cafe, which was intended to fill an empty shop unit until the end of August and make the town centre more attractive, has faced objections from other businesses who said its fittings were “more fitting to a seaside pier.”

Chris Jevons, who spoke at the meeting to support his application, said he had been left “shocked” by the criticisms since opening the unit.

He added: “It’s much better to have full rather than empty shops and we have tried to do it tastefully. We’re completely surprised about the number of comments we’ve had about it in the press. It’s clean, tidy there’s no smell, no rubbish and that’s it.”

The meeting was told that complaints had been received from Trotter & Deane, Nicola Sexton and Richard Bird of the Street Level Cafe.

The committee told Mr Jevons that a permit would be granted but his street furniture must be approved by the council.

Speaking afterwards Mr Jevons said he was “extremely pleased.”

He added: “Common sense has prevailed.”