The creator of a new free café in Old Kilpatrick has hit back at critics who say she is trying to put other hospitality ventures out of business.
Maureen Cummings defended the addition of the Wee Chatty Café down at the Saltings, insisting the plans to create the free food and drink spot have been in the works for more than two years.
The founder of local community hub the Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels (OKFP) explained the planning application to turn a 40ft shipping container into a takeaway coffee shop was made in February 2021, and the reason for the delay was planning only getting approved in October 2022.
And, speaking to our sister title the Post, Maureen explained the winter weather further prevented OKFP from setting up the latest addition to their ever-expanding portfolio of good causes any sooner than spring.
She said: “The amount of negativity we’ve had from a few of the visitors because there is a wee café opened in the village, and everybody seems to think I’m now this villain that’s going to put this wee café out of business.
“I’m like, listen, this has been on the go for two years.”
Recently, a new coffee shop opened on nearby Dumbarton Road, prompting concerns raised by Chatty Café visitors about whether or not it was fair for Maureen to be giving out free food and drink as a new business tries to make its mark on the local landscape.
But Maureen cites her own personal journey - when she was struggling with her own mental health - as the reason she had always planned for an outreach café at the Saltings spot.
She continued: “My reason for wanting to site the container down at the Saltings is, you know, there can be a lot of lost souls that wander about down there.”
Before adding: “Years ago, when I had my breakdown, I used to go down to the Saltings bit for a walk when I was at a really low ebb.
“I met a few different people on my visits down there who helped me, and I also met people that I just had a wee chat with and I helped them.
“It dawned on me, yes it’s a beautiful walk and there are a lot of dog walkers, but there are a lot of lost souls who go down there sometimes for a bit of soul searching.
“And I thought, how lovely would it be if you came out of that walk and there was a friendly face with a cup of coffee or something.”
Since opening at the beginning of April, the initiative has seen regulars wanting to give something to the OKFP as a means to ‘pay’ for their drinks, and a donation exchange is beginning to form.
Maureen explained: “That’s what’s happening, there is a lovely exchange that’s going on.
“There have been people up already, dropping in dog treats and poo bags in return for their cup of coffee and their roll.”
Next up for Maureen and the OKFP is work to open up a ‘drop-in garden’ around the back of the container, dubbed by the group as Scouts Square. Local charity Men’s Shed is set to build picnic benches and planters and the hope is people will stop off and help out whilst they enjoy their brew.
Maureen finished: “The idea will be, each planter we have will be growing something we need to use in our soup or in our meals in the café.
“These will be tended by whoever comes down for a coffee and wants to go round and sit in Scouts Square.
“So, it will be a drop-in garden. When you are sitting having your coffee, you can pick up a rake if you want, you can cut some fresh flowers, you can sow some seeds, you can do whatever you would like to do as if it was your own garden.”
The chatty café is open between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Friday on Erskine Ferry Road.
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