MANY will think it is over the top to get so angry about a coffee shop opening in a high street.

But Costa launching in Rottingdean today is about much more than just coffee. For many, Rottingdean is a quintessential English village. It has wonderful pubs, a fantastic cricket club and views to die for.

Such is its character it has attracted the likes of writer Rudyard Kipling and painter Sir Edward Burne-Jones. We put so much effort into protecting the character of an area. We turn down planning applications and build by-passes to divert traffic. Perhaps we should also stop huge multinational shops and cafes opening?

Whatever you think of Costa, it has a place. But is it really right for Rottingdean? The great shame is that all high streets are starting to look the same. Walk through any village or town of a certain size and you will find a Tesco or Sainsbury’s, a Boots, perhaps a Wetherspoons and almost certainly a Costa.

England is known around the world for its beautiful villages. Tourists travel thousands of miles to see the likes of the Cotswolds and villages like Rottingdean. Are we really prepared to lose their character for a convenient cup of coffee?

There is, of course, the argument that if there wasn’t demand then Costa wouldn’t open. But sometimes we have to take a long term view to protect our heritage. Make no mistake, that’s what it is: our heritage. Villages like Rottingdean are just as important to our history as the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Palace Pier. They are part of our history and hopefully part of our future.