PLANS for a not-for-profit community waffle house in Axminster have been refused by East Devon District Council, but the team behind the venture are not giving up.

Waffle has been set up to create a community-owned and run space in the heart of the town, with the sole purpose of putting 100 per cent of the profits back into the local community.

A Crowdfunder successfully raised more than £8,000 for the project and a planning application was submitted to change the use of its premises from a shop to a café.

However, planners objected to this citing that not enough information was provided for noise, odour and waste storage impacts that would come from the café or that the use would not undermine the sustainability of the shopping area.

But Sophie McLachlan, a member of the team behind the venture, said that they will try again to make this dream a reality.

She said: “Our change of use was refused but, even though it got refused, we are reapplying with all the information the council needs to accept it.

“There were three main reasons it was refused, which we now have more information on and can respond to it.

“So, we are in the process of reapplying and are still going ahead with the plan to open Waffle, but it may be mid to end of February now.

“Our plans haven’t changed with Waffle House, we hope will open either way.”

For more information on the project, search for The Community Waffle House on Facebook or visit https://bit.ly/2CYfwap