Frustration is growing among shopkeepers as more food outlets have opened their doors to customers in the last month.

Shenley Road, in Borehamwood, has become home to several new coffee and take-away shops in the past month, leaving some neighbouring businesses angry at what they believe is the loss of choice and “unfair” competition.

Concern is also mounting at the number of eateries which are opening without getting permission to change from a retail outlet to a restaurant or café.

Mark Hawkins, owner of Tonibell, a café which has been in the high street for more than 40 years, is upset at the arrival of Sam’s Chicken, Orli Bagel, Starbucks and a new sandwich bar and bakery all in close proximity.

He said: “People think it is ridiculous, Borehamwood is a food high street and not a retail one. No one applies for licences any more preferring to get through on planning loopholes saying they are just coffee shops.

“But if the council came down and saw what was on the menus and what is advertised on the pictures it would realise they are not sticking to the rules.

“We had to get a licence to operate as a café, so why shouldn’t other food places? It is not fair that one rule applies to us and not everyone.

“It makes it very difficult for existing businesses because business is going down and rates are going up. The council has got to enforce its own laws even if there are grey areas. It should be obvious that you can saturate a market place with one kind of business.”

Edwin Nelken, chairman of Hertsmere’s chamber of trade, said he has been hearing a lot of concerns from business owners on the high street who believe some new arrivals are flouting planning guidelines.

Under the Town and Country Planning Order 1987, businesses must obtain planning permission if the use of the premises changes, for example from a retail outlet to a restaurant or café.

But under planning regulations bakeries, sandwich shops and coffee shops are classed as A1 or retail units.

Factors such as floor space, customer seating, the type of food served and whether it is cooked in the premises can affect the business’s status.

Richard Grove, head of planning, said: “If a retail unit changes to a restaurant or café serving food on the premises it has to apply for a change of use.

“In the recent cases of Starbucks and now the bagel shop, they have provided us with detailed information about the kind of trade that goes on and from what we have seen, they still come under the regulations of a retail unit. But we will continue to monitor the shops and if we feel they change we will invite them to submit a planning application.”

Mr Grove said the planning department could not get involved with issues of competition. He added: “ We try to have a mix of uses in the high street and avoid a concentration of non-retail premises.”