Restaurant owner shocked as council staff come to install bike rack in front of outdoor tables

Mill Road traders came to show their support after the plans put Tradizioni’s outdoor dining at risk

A restaurant owner was left in shock after council officers came to install a bike rack in front of their outdoor seating. Andrea Scaramuccia, co-founder and general manager of Tradizioni on Mill Road, said officers came on Wednesday (September 2) to mark up the location.

The 51-year-old said: “I came out to ask what’s going on and they said they were installing bike racks – but I told them I have tables here. When I said can it be stopped, they said it’s too late – we’re coming tomorrow to install it.”

He posted on Facebook saying that the restaurant would have to give up their outdoor dining if the plans were to go ahead, receiving an outpouring of public support. He said: “In summer it’s 60 per cent of my business – I have a small restaurant but I can double my seats in summer.”

Councillor Alex Beckett, chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s highways and transport committee, said the plan for bike racks was originally agreed in 2023 – but they were able to stop it being put in place.

The Lib Dem councillor said it was part of a Local Highways Improvement bid which hadn’t taken into account Mill Road’s outdoor dining scene.

He said: “Yesterday they came to mark it up and that’s when they realised it’s an issue – but we were able to cancel it fully.” He said he had spoken to Mill Road business owners about alternative sites after they came out to show their support.

He said: “The community came together which was really nice, being moved to defend the spot – it’s really nice that Mill Road came together.”

Mr Scaramuccia said: “A bad day became a day of joy because all these people came together and thousands of people expressed their support, so it’s been very great.

“I have to say sometimes we always blame politicians, but in this case they have been very responsible and fixed things.”