The café at The Heritage Centre, at Eling Quay, has been serving up drinks and snacks for over 10 years and had become an increasingly profitable concern. However, only days after Totton & Eling Town Council was taken over by a new Conservative administration, the café has been closed.

Both Council staff and members have been asked by management to remain tight-lipped about the reasons for the overnight closure. However, it is thought that a lot of the newly elected Conservative councillors are unhappy that local people were using the café and wish it to be “more upmarket, with higher prices”.

Former Council Chairman, Liberal Democrat, Cllr. David Harrison says “This is the worst possible start for the new council. There are a lot of new, inexperienced members who perhaps don’t appreciate how important this facility is to local people, as well as tourists”.

Fellow Lib Dem Councillor, Len Harris, who served as Chairman of Amenities up until the elections earlier this month, says “I’m shocked by the news of this unexpected and unplanned closure. I will be calling for the café to be re-opened again as soon as possible”.