The owners of a coffee shop in Great Harwood are preparing to leave after facing pressure from visa price hikes and the proposed opening of a Starbucks in town.
Adam Ho and Hsin Ke Ho are in charge of 47 Coffee House, in Queen Street. They are set to leave the business on August 24 and have asked anyone interested in taking over the business to get in touch.
Adam says several factors have contributed to the business closure and said the decision is bittersweet.
He said: “When we looked to open the shop last year we realized Great Harwood didn’t have a coffee shop dedicated to just coffee and many were more food-focused.
“We don’t feel bad about the decision and don’t feel like we haven’t succeeded in what we have done so far. We just feel like this was the best option for us.
“We have really great reviews online and a loyal customer base. We see a want and need for a business like ours but it doesn’t seem like the journey is going to be as smooth as we thought it would be last year.
“There are too many factors that could put us in a bad position.
“It is bittersweet. We are sad we will not be doing what we wanted to do.”
After meeting his husband in Taiwan, Adam and Hsin moved to UK, and must now meet the family visa threshold in order for him to stay in the country.
This was increased from £18,000 to £29,000 in April. This is the combined income needed for the visa to be renewed.
According to Adam, if this figure is increased to £38,000 they will not meet the criteria for the visa while working at the business.
Adam said: “If it did go up to that much this would be more of a struggle. As a new business, we are not earning enough to cover that.
“It felt like with everything with the visa and a potential for a visa, we’d be shooting ourselves in the foot if we carried on.
“The Government obviously wants to crack down on illegal immigrants but we are doing this the legal way.
"They increased the threshold to £29,000 which a lot of people don’t make. I am fortunate enough to make that but maybe not if they put it up again.”
Adam has also decided to leave the business before a Starbucks opens in Heys Lane. Plans for a coffee chain in the town were approved in April.
He said: “There are so many big coffee chains in the surrounding areas.
"I don’t see the need for one in Great Harwood, especially when there are already so many cafes…it feels like a ‘money grab’ for the council.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the town reacted in a negative way to it.
“I grew up here so I know it well. A lot of independent businesses have established themselves here, including Finch Bakery and Brie Mine Deli.
“We wanted to join them because they’re all independent and local business. There’s a great sense of community about it.
“I don’t think people in the town were given enough opportunity to object.
“We don’t have any negative feelings towards anyone in the council. We just think it’s an odd decision.”
A spokesperson for the council said: “The planning application for the development of the Starbucks in Great Harwood was determined by the Council’s Planning Committee in April this year.
"The applicant had satisfactorily addressed the national and local policy requirements for planning applications for town centre uses, such as coffee shops, in out-of-centre locations.
"The planning application was advertised in accordance with the legal requirements, in this case a site notice was posted in the site. Representations were received from a number of people and these were addressed within the report to planning committee.
"The council provides direct support to small businesses in Great Harwood and across Hyndburn via our Economic Development Team. This is delivered through 1-1 support as well as delivery of a range of workshops.
"In addition several partner organisations deliver funded support on the Council’s behalf including Boost for start-up and growth support and the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce Low Carbon programme.
"Furthermore, the Council is planning support specifically for Great Harwood via the Great Harwood accelerator fund, details of which will follow later this year.
"It's sad to see any local business close, and I wish the owners well in the future.”
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