Cafe owners fear for the future after plans for a new coffee shop got the green light.

Barnet Borough Council last month granted planning permission for a Costa Coffee at the former Post Office site in East Barnet Road, East Barnet Village.

A petition opposing the plans gathered 560 signatures.

Ludo Cekaj, who owns Ludo’s Cafe, in Cat Hill, East Barnet Village, said he would not be able to compete against a big chain.

He said: “It will affect me a lot. I have nothing against independent owners, but a chain will kill independent businesses. It’s not just me who is worried about this. We already have 21 eating places, and there’s not that many people come around here. This isn’t Regent Street, it’s East Barnet.”

Mr Cekaj, who has run the cafe for a year, added: “Customers say they will support us. Everyone is against it. I am trying to build a family business with a good atmosphere. A customer is not just a number.”

Felicity Catchpole, who owns Cafe Fresco in East Barnet Village, said a lot of her customers opposed the plans.

She added: “I think there should be a bigger variety of shops. It should be something completely different, whether it’s a pet shop, or a clothes shop. A lot of customers say they don’t want a big chain down here. They want something different.

“Why another coffee place? There are over 20 odd places to eat and drink in the village already. We are all struggling as it is. It will have a knock on effect for all of us, and have an impact on the business. It might bring footfall to the village, but we cannot compete. It will be hard for everybody.”

Lydia Crawford, a dog trainer from Enfield who regularly visits the village to shop, said: “It’s a bit unfair to the local shopkeepers. I doubt they will be able to compete.”

Peter Holmes, 70, from East Barnet, said: “I don’t think it’s a good thing. I am torn, because I support free enterprise, but you can have too many cafes. There’s enough as it is, especially as it’s a Costa Coffee, which even I know is a huge chain. Maybe if it was some small chap trying to make a living, it would be different.”

He added: “I share people’s disquiet. I would like to see housing instead. We are told there’s a shortage so let it be residential.”

A council spokesman said: “Planning permission was granted for a change of use for the premises from retail to a mixed retail/café use on October 21. It was recommended for approval as the proposed change complied with adopted planning policies including that the new use was not considered to harm the retail vitality of the town centre.

“When considering applications competition is not a material planning consideration.”

A Costa spokesman said: “We appreciate that the opening of a branded store can be a highly emotive issue for some people however we honestly do not think that any of the traders in East Barnet should see Costa as a threat.

"Our offering is very different to the local independent coffee shops and bakeries and we believe that people can and will use both, depending on their needs, something that we have seen in the other towns in which we operate.”