THE Silecroft Beach Cafe will be closing its doors for the last time this month.

The business, located on Silecroft, Millom will close on June 21 after the three year lease to sell on its current premises is about to expire.

The cafe was originally established as a data collection point to discover if it was financially viable to set up a business in Silecroft.

Backlash has arisen as the cafe was expected to be allowed to remain open until a new building was built, but this may not be done until next year.

A replacement ice cream van service will began on the beach from July 1.

Owner Sam Burns said: "I have worked continuously to build the cafe into a successful business.

“Put a lot of time energy and money into it to make it viable for a new cafe to be built and for the parish council to secure the funding for it.

“Apparently, I have now done my job. And am no longer needed.

“Even though it’s going be a very long time before the new cafe is built, and I even offered for me to come on with my catering trailer to keep the customers coming.

“The tender has gone out for an ice cream van selling hot, cold drinks ice creams and snacks.

“It is of a certain size which is smaller than my trailer. It has angered so many people that they are going to boycott the ice cream van.

“I think it will be highly unlikely that I will be chosen to run the new one. Which is heart-breaking after all the hard work I have put in.”

A spokes person from the Whicham Parish Council and the CIC said: "The planning consent for the pop-up café expires on 28 June 2021.

"Several factors, not least the Covid pandemic, have delayed the new build.

"The Parish Council are led to believe that an announcement is imminent of the date that construction on this exciting new project of the permanent café will commence.

"The construction stage is being managed by Copeland Borough Council and once constructed the café will then be handed over to the Parish Council for the benefit of its residents.

"The Pop-up Café was always to be a temporary business with the purpose of providing evidence of a business case for funding for a permanent structure. This function has now been completed.

"The Chair of the CIC and members of the CIC were informed during a meeting that the licence to trade, which expires on 21 June 2021 would not be renewed and the reasons for that decision were freely discussed.

"The Parish Council also considered the provision of car parking this summer, which is expected to be busier than usual.

"Tenders have gone out for a mobile ice cream van which will give more spaces and flexibility, once construction on the new build commences.

"The Parish Council has never had a contract with the café operator.

"The contract to manage the temporary pop-up café was between the CIC and the Pop-up café operator and the Parish Council were not present at or privy to any discussions between the CIC and the operator.

"All Parish Council meetings are advertised as per Government legislation and members of the public are able to attend and observe the Parish Council and listen to debates.

"Regretfully at the moment because of current Covid restrictions this is limited to 6 members of the public.

"There are strict guidelines that govern any council as to how it can conduct meetings and how members of the public can interact during a council meeting.

"As per Government Legislation, a tendering process will have to be undertaken for the lease of the permanent café once completed and of course the Pop-up café operator can compete for that as can anyone within the country."