A CAFE supporting people with mental health issues will not reopen this year, despite the easing of lockdown restrictions.

The decision came after the staff and the parish council realised it would not be safe for customers.

Pinecones Cafe in Pinehurst is run by The Recovery Tree Charity.

Manager Phyllida Roberts said: “The main reason we chose to make that decision is because we support people with mental health conditions and these people have very high levels of anxiety about going outside in general, so they would be reluctant to go to the cafe.

“We have also done Covid risk assessments and from this we had a concern around the amount of space we would need in order to work safely.

“The Pinecones Cafe is so much about supporting each other we just felt that we wouldn’t be able to at this time.”

The decision was made even more difficult by the fact the charity had refurbished the inside of the cafe.

“I was really disappointed as Pinecones is a really lovely community face and it was sad that we had repainted it. Everything was looking really fresh and energetic just a week before lockdown so it felt like a huge loss,” said Phyllida.

The cafe started as just a lunch club around four years ago and expanded in 2018.

Around 50 people would visit Pinecones each week before lockdown was imposed in March.

The team offers support and workshops to people with mental health problems but the cafe is also used by other groups for exercise and tackling health issues.

Central North Swindon Parish Council clerk Andy Reeves said: “We don’t have the space to run our groups like the Alzheimers Club in the cafe at the moment. Sadly the cafe isn’t going to be coming back this year but our facilities are available for people to hire.

“We also have to take into account the individual needs of the people that are involved. The council are aware of this and we are doing what we can and working with them to help as best as we can.”

Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation is giving the council a grant to help vulnerable customers.

It will be used to deliver food to people in the area who are shielding or are struggling financially.

He said: “Sadly our popular Pinecones cafe won’t be re-opening for the foreseeable future but we will have vending options installed.

“As we have no café we’ve secured a £2,500 grant to continue to provide hot food home delivery for those residents who would usually attend our lunch clubs and anyone who is in need.”

To sign up for deliveries contact the council at centralswindonnorth-pc.gov.uk