Paint job problem for cafe

When council planners told Helen Anthony to change the colour of her bright-red roadside cafe to "blend in" with the countryside, she reached straight for the paintbrushes.

But it seems the new paint job given to Porky's has worked too well – because people are just driving past.

Now the 51-year-old says her new look business, in a lay-by off the southbound A6, in Mountsorrel, is losing out.

She said: "When the place was red, people could see it a long way off down the road and they had plenty of time to slow down and pull in to get some food.

"Now it's much harder to spot and some people, who have not known we are here, only see it at the last minute, when it's too late to stop.

"There's nowhere for them to easily turn round so they just stop at the next place – probably the big new service area in Birstall.

"You know it happens because some customers have come back down this road when they remembered to stop. They told me that they missed it last time round.

"For all those who do come back, there must be many more who don't and that is potentially a lot of passing trade lost."

Helen, from Scraptoft, is resigned to the fact that Porky's will have to remain green, even if it means losing customers.

In March, planning officers at Charnwood Borough Council discovered Porky's temporary steel cabin did not have planning permission.

Helen, who had not been aware of this when she bought the business the previous April, was told planners felt it had an "intrusive" effect on the surrounding countryside.

Councillors eventually decided she could keep her business on the condition it was painted green.

Helen said: "I'm not going to complain about having to repaint it. It is far better than having to close it and lose my income.

"I have to accept that some customers won't see it, but make sure those who do stop get good food and lots of it so they come back."

Trucker Keith Pierpoint, 44, from Wolverhampton, occasionally drops in for a Porky's big breakfast.

He said: "You have to feel a bit sorry for the place, because it would do better if it was easier to see. It's strange that they have basically been told to camouflage themselves.

Coun Paul Harley, who sat on the committee that ordered Porky's to be repainted, said: "I think painting it green was a good compromise because it blends in nicely.

"We want Porky's to do well because there's a need for it. Mrs Anthony has the St George flag up to get people's attention."

But while truckers and white-van drivers may not know the cafe is there, thieves do.

Twice last year, Porky's was broken into and its flags have also been stolen.

The latest raid was in November when thieves forced the door and ransacked the cafe.

However, Helen is determined to carry on. She said: "The council couldn't stop me and the thieves won't either."