OKEHAMPTON'S Café Connect is to have its contract at the Parklands Leisure Centre terminated this July. Jan Halpin opened the café in February 2005 and since then has built it into a popular and friendly venue for friends and families to meet. Now she has been told by the leisure centre that her contract will not be renewed after July 11 — and has instead been awarded to a national catering company. She said: 'It came as a complete and utter shock. I just couldn't believe it, especially as I'd been making plans just recently with the management about ways of improving the café . 'I've worked seven days a week since I started the business, and I've just got to the stage now where its starting to pay. I can't help feeling really upset.' Regulars at the café have also been upset and angered by the leisure centre's decision, and have been sending letters of objection to its management. Holly Barnes, who often takes her young children to the café, said: 'They're so good with families. They'll do anything for children. And they use local suppliers for their food. 'There's nothing else like it in Okehampton. They're really valued.' David Melson, of Okehampton, a regular at the café, said the leisure centre 'should be ashamed of themselves'. 'I'll not go to the café if Jan leaves,' he said, and predicted: 'She'll get a lot of support from her customers.' Jan said it is the customers and her staff she will miss the most: 'I've got some lovely customers — especially lots of older people. 'We treat them like friends. And the girls I work with are brilliant. They've worked long hours with me over the last two years — way beyond what they're meant to do.' Jan's customers are now hoping she will open another café in Okehampton some time in the future. Leisure Connections, who run Parklands, were not available for comment.
