The owners of a popular tourist destination in Althorne have spoken out against Maldon District Council's rejection of their bid for a café.

Ross and Sam Lonergan had hoped to obtain retrospective planning permission for the café, which they have been operating at their vineyard on Fambridge Road since 2019 alongside their tasting room and shop.

The café has resulted in the employment of six full-time and ten part-time residents from the Maldon district.

But planning officers turned down the application on Thursday (9 December), after saying it did not demonstrate "a justifiable and functional need for the activity within this rural location".

Althorne Parish Council had also recommended refusal of the plans.

Ross and Sam said: "While we are bitterly disappointed with the decisions of Althorne Parish Council and Maldon District Council's planning office, we have been overwhelmed by the support of the local people.

"They are clearly supportive of our café at the vineyard and appreciate that they can visit somewhere local and beautiful for refreshments as well as wine tasting experiences and vineyard tours."

The couple are appealing the decision to the Planning Inspectorate and have started a petition to encourage local support, which has been signed by over 1,300 people since launching on Saturday (11 December).

They said: "We are hopeful that the parish council will take on board the views of the village.

"We hope we will now be able to work with the district council's planning office, as it has not been possible to discuss our application with them in the past year and come to a positive outcome for the vineyard."

You can view the petition here.