Restaurateurs fear God might lower the tone of Newcastle

Restaurant and café owners in one of Newcastle's hippest streets have objected to plans for a church sanctuary because they fear it will make the area uncool.

The city's Pink Lane, formerly a notorious red-light district, was designated an arts and entertainment area by city planners about 10 years ago as part of a rejuvenation programme.

But the street's café bosses are incensed by plans by the First Church of Christ Scientist to convert a former betting shop into a reading room and learning centre.

Graham Snowdon, a First Church member and a city planning officer, denied that the site would dampen the Pink Lane night life.

"We don't see ourselves posing any problems to other businesses," he said.

But Keith Crombie, owner of the Jazz Café, said: "We live a Bohemian life in this part of Newcastle, and a reading room isn't what we are about."

Steve French, co-owner of Pink Lane's Viva Sol restaurant, said the religious reading room "goes against the grain" of the council's plan for the area.

Another restaurateur, who asked not to be named, said that he feared the church might drive people away by sending its missionaries out on to the street.

by Cliff Goodwin