Decision on clifftop cafe

Expert judges and more than 450 visitors to a public exhibition of the eight proposals submitted have cast their votes - and a winner has been chosen.

But the result is being kept a closely-guarded secret until the winner is announced at a Mayoral reception in early December.

And even then it will be up to the borough council to make the final decision, expected early in the new year, before work can get under way on replacing the original clifftop cafe destroyed by fire in 1990.

Since then attempts to provide a new facility have foundered amid public and political disagreement over what should be built and where it should be located on the high profile skyline site.

"We now have the concept, but there is still quite a way to go though," said ward councillor Malcolm Mawbey, who was one of the judges along with Highcliffe residents' association chairman Peter Martin and members of catering and architectural bodies.

"We are determined to see the right facility for this location," he added.

The competition, organised by Christchurch council in partnership with the Wessex area of the Royal Institute of British Architects, looked at both design and operational proposals for any new cafe.

Once the judges had selected their top three they reassessed their decision in the light of comments received during the week-long public exhibition at Highcliffe Castle - and the professionals' preferences were reflected by the responses received.

"We were so pleased that many residents took the time and trouble to go along and make their choices," said Cllr Mawbey.

Wessex RIBA past chairman Roger Gallanaugh, who headed the judging panel, said: "This was a very interesting process. The entries were of a high standard, diverse and interesting.

"The judges, from different backgrounds, worked well together and we hope that our overall unanimous decision is approved by the people of Highcliffe and Christchurch."

First published: November 19