A COUNCILLOR who is planning to give his own cooking classes said he will refuse to teach people who don't speak English.
Deva Kumarasiri, 42, independent councillor for Gedling's Valley ward, wants to open his own caf� in Valley Road, Carlton.
As the Post reported last year, he was dismissed from Sneinton Boulevard Post Office in March 2009 after he refused to serve non-English speaking customers.
"I'm sticking with that way of thinking," he said.
"I would not teach people who don't speak English.
"I think people who come to a foreign country have to respect the values of that country.
"I like to help people who want to learn, but we have people here who don't want to learn English."
However one of Mr Kumarasiri's constituents, Vince Li, the owner of Valley Road Takeaway, in the same road as the proposed cafe, said: "This is a free country, so it's up to him. But I don't think it's right. I think it's unfair.
"If you come here as a foreigner you could combine learning English with learning to cook and for him to refuse to do that is wrong."
Mr Kumarasiri, who moved to the UK from Sri Lanka 20 years ago, submitted a planning application to convert his former post office into a caf� last November.
The application is due to be discussed by Gedling Borough Council's planning committee on Wednesday.
No decision has been made yet, but the committee is being recommended to refuse planning permission on the basis that the development would spoil nearby properties and have a negative impact on nearby commercial centres.
Mr Kumarasiri said this was "diabolical".
"Tesco down the road got the okay to build their caf� and what detrimental effect am I going to have?
"I'm shocked. This must be a joke. I really counted on this caf�.
"There are no jobs out there.
"I have been out of work for nearly three years and I need a job to pay my mortgage.
He added his caf� would serve as "a valuable community space".
He said: "This recommendation is diabolical."
Before working as postmaster in Sneinton, Mr Kumarasiri ran his own catering trailer.
Prior to that, he worked at his own post office in Carlton which had to be closed in 2008.
His plans for Deva's Caf� involve serving typical Sri Lankan as well as other multi-cultural dishes.
His cooking workshops, called Deva's Kitchen, are already gaining some popularity, he said.
"I already have around 30 people waiting for my classes to start.
"Deva's Kitchen will be opening, no matter what."
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