A campaign group is “extremely alarmed” that the lease to run a café in Trent Park is believed to have been given to an adventure playground company.
The True Friends of Trent Park have collected 3,100 signatures on a petition to stop Go Ape, which runs the nearby tree-top adventure park that opened last month, from being given the right to run the café in the park.
The Enfield Independent understands the company have won the tender process run by Enfield Council, although the decision is open to challenge by councillors until Monday.
Campaigners said in a statement: “We are extremely alarmed that Enfield Council has decided to give the Trent Park café lease to the parent company of Go Ape and feel most strongly that it should remain a community café rather than an extension of an already unwelcome corporate company.”
Rosa and Dennis Marzocchi, who had run the business for 30 years, were told to vacate the premises at the end of last month.
Taking the decision, council officers said the winning bidder “provided the highest rent offered that was supported by a robust business case that demonstrated the ability to deliver the rent offered”.
The company also offered “substantial capital investment” to refurbish the interior and catering equipment.
The Enfield Independent understands Go Ape offered approximately £35,000 a year to run the café, beating more than 20 bidders for the lease.
It has said it will run the building under the name Forest Café and offer a more extensive menu that currently is on offer.
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