Outdoor cafe plan for market place ‘brilliant’
10:34am Saturday 10th May 2008
A MARKET town has set off on a Continental journey after councillors approved plans to encourage a cafe culture.
The King's Head Hotel, in Richmond, has been granted planning permission to expand its seating area onto the cobbles of the Market Place, leading to the loss of four parking spaces.
At a meeting of Richmondshire District Council on Wednesday evening, concerns were raised about the loss of parking.
But Councillor Jim Fryer said people should learn to be less reliant on their cars, adding: "They need to be educated to the fact that they have legs, and that they can use them to walk."
Under the plans, which will be introduced for a four-month trial over the next fortnight, about ten small tables with umbrellas will be placed on roped-off platforms outside the King's Head.
Ten letters of objection were received from people who raised concerns about safety and the loss of parking.
Coun Ken Lambert said: "I think it's a brilliant idea, but I worry a precedent will be set.
Other establishments will want to do the same, and more parking space will be lost."
But Coun Fryer said: "This development will be great for Richmond - someone has got to do something to help this town.
"The parking issue is important, but we could easily make some changes. For example, buses could drop people off near the King Street roundabout rather than clogging up the square, and people will just have to walk a bit further.
"In this day and age, we should be trying to get people out of their cars more."
Kay Alexander, general manager at the hotel, said she was delighted with the result.
"We've been planning for this for a year, and we can't wait to get started," she said.
"If other establishments follow suit it can only be a good thing - the more the merrier. The square will be more attractive, with a great atmosphere, and people will want to spend more time here. "
She added: "It will be great to get our Market Place back as a market, rather than just a car park."