ANGRY owners of a new coffee bar operating without permission, today claimed the authorities had reneged on two agreements.Puccino's in Hamilton Road opened before it had planning consent and was then refused permission when it did apply for it.

ANGRY owners of a new coffee bar operating without permission, today claimed the authorities had reneged on two agreements.

Puccino's in Hamilton Road opened before it had planning consent and was then refused permission when it did apply for it. Now officers are looking at taking court action to close it down.

But managers of the coffee shop and deli bar claim they were given clear indications that there would be no problems with permission and that the change of use from a retail unit was acceptable.

Andrew Sanders, marketing director of Puccino's claimed Suffolk Coastal "has twice gone back on agreements made with Puccino's".

Frustrated Mr Sanders said: "Everybody loves what we do, we're just running a little coffee bar for God's sake, we didn't expect all this trouble.

"When Puccino's originally discussed the A1 deli bar offer with the local planners prior to taking the site in Felixstowe it was confirmed that the offer would be acceptable for an A1 shop."

The council has codes for different buildings and Puccino's premises is listed under A1, which enforces restrictions on what is sold.

Suffolk Coastal said Puccino's would need an A3 permission, which enables food to be sold and consumed on the premises, to legitimately function. Puccino's applied for this but it was refused.

"Following complaints from local A3 operators Suffolk Coastal stated that our deli bar offer was in their opinion A3," said Mr Sanders.

"After much discussion Suffolk Coastal suggested that if Puccino's submitted an A3 application they would look favourably on it and this would resolve the issue once and for all.

"This was not made in order that Puccino's would continue with its deli bar but would allow Puccino's to turn the site in to a full café bar restaurant.

"Despite the support of Felixstowe council, Suffolk Coastal then rejected the application that they asked us to make."

A spokesman for Suffolk Coastal said officers would have made no promises about whether planning permission would be received for a change of use.

"Planning officers are always careful to advise any applicant that comments they make regarding the merits of a proposal cannot commit the council as the decision on a planning application is likely to rest with councillors," he said.