COSTA will be opening a store in Launceston town centre after Cornwall Council's planning committee approved the coffee chain's planning application. Councillors voted eight to three to approve Costa's bid at the East Sub-area planning meeting held in Liskeard on Monday (August 18). Jonathan Luker, case officer for the application, outlined the key issues surrounding the application at the meeting, including the principle and impact on the character and appearance of the area. Mr Luker, in his report, recommended approval of the application with the use proposed 'considered to be acceptable and suitable for the town centre location'. Jo White, owner of The Coffee Pot café in the town, spoke at the meeting on behalf of four other independent coffee shops in Launceston, who, she said, oppose Costa's application. She said: "We would lose the uniqueness of Launceston. That is our concern. "Launceston does not have a high street with major chains on it. That is one of the reasons why I chose to buy a business there. People do not come to see a Costa. "Costa is not going to make us special in any way. We've got three Costas [Tesco, Greenaways and the Co-op/ Texaco garage]. Why do we need another in a market town?" For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.