A COMMUNITY cafe could become a permanent feature in Fernhill Heath after a pop-up was hailed for tackling loneliness.
The permanent cafe - if the planning application is approved - will be on The Brum Recreation Ground and will be an evolution of the current pop-up one.
Fernhill Heath pop-up cafe is run by volunteers and relies on everyone in the community baking, working and supplying materials to keep it afloat.
It has been praised for tackling loneliness in the community and building friendships.
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Megan Farmer, organiser and Claines Parish Council chairman, said: "My husband died a few years ago, and it has given me a purpose.
"I can just sit and watch the world go by and have a coffee and meet other people in the cafe.
"It brings the community together of all ages as it is not just the elderly who are lonely.
"The demand is there, and the support is there."
Two surveys conducted by the cafe revealed only one person out of 400 was not in favour of the permanent cafe, and that person said they never attended cafes in general.
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If the project gets the go-ahead, councillors have already debated the best method to build the cafe and using storage containers has been among the ideas flying around.
Cllr Farmer added: "Pop-up is all we can do at the moment and provide cakes, coffees and teas.
"But a more permanent building means we can do other things like paninis and encourage groups to come and visit.
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"We cannot keep putting up a gazebo - it is hard work."
For the pop-up cafe, volunteers need to carry a gazebo and put it up each time the cafe runs, which means the group cannot invest in things like a coffee machine which would be hard to carry to a destination.
Cafe volunteers say they try not to compete with other shops, choosing only items other shops don't offer.
Cllr Farmer said this helps other local businesses to keep running.
Claines Parish Council is awaiting a result from the planning committee before proceeding with the build.
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