A café owner is to submit a planning application to reopen her business after it was forced to close late last year.

Emma Ayles, owner of the Caddy Shack at Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club, hopes to reopen her café - and met with an architect yesterday to discuss required changes.

The Caddy Shack Café was forced to close on Sunday, December 11, after it was refused planning consent to become a permanent fixture.

The original application was met with objections from neighbours complaining about the 'smell of bacon' and 'of hearing teaspoons and teacups'.

READ MORE: Upset after Caddy Shack in Weymouth is closed down

Mrs Ayles said: “When we got shut down, the only option we had was to close up or move it further back in the car park so that’s what we’re doing.

"We’re planning on being further away from the footpath and residents so hopefully there will be no complaints as we will be out the way of everyone.”

Following an influx of local support on an online petition to save the Caddy Shack, Mrs Ayles became inspired to try and reopen the café.

As of now, the Change.org petition has acquired 4,070 signatures.

READ MORE: Weymouth: More sign petition to save Caddy Shack Cafe

Bournemouth Echo: Caddy Shack

She said: “It’s been really heart-warming and lovely to see.

"The support was really good, so we decided to go ahead and put in for planning. We met with an architect yesterday and the application will be submitted as soon as he’s got the plans drawn up.

"It could be eight weeks but it could be months - it just depends on how things turn out. “

If planning gets approved, Mrs Ayles hopes the café will be able to open in spring or summer time, ensuring it provides the service the local community have grown to love.

“Our plan is just to carry on as we were, to move it as quickly as possible, set it all out, adding flowers making it pretty.

"There was nothing wrong with it. everybody loved it as it was, people loved coming there.

"I’d only add a few more things to the menu but don’t want to change too much."