A CONTINENTAL feel may be heading to Thirsk as plans to create a street pavement cafe culture in the town are examined.

Rough early plans have been drawn up to debate whether to turn part of the town into an area for outside cafes.

Locals views on the matter are wanted and the idea will be discussed at the Thirsk Area Forum.

One problem facing the scheme is an on-street drinking ban in place in Thirsk and in neighbouring Sowerby.

It allows the police to take alcohol off anyone they think is likely to cause trouble or to issue a £50 fine if they refuse to give it up.

Forum chairman Coun Gareth Dadd said: “This is being brought to the area forum as people are unsure to what can be done within the constraints of the law and policy.

“This meeting will put it firmly in the public eye so both locals and businesses can see what it is all about.

“There are no definite plans at all. This is merely to get information and to get locals’ views..

He said the project had been on the wish-list of the Thirsk Regeneration Initiative for some time and they were now testing whether it was possible.

However he added: “What I don’t want to see is masses of people sitting drinking in the market place.”

The owner of the White Horse café on the Market Place, Dave Almond, welcomed the idea.

“It could bring more tourists in on a hot day and it’s nice to sit outside, but it really depends on how it is done,” he said.

Inspector Tim Osborne, of Thirsk police, said: “It’s a balancing act between what people might like and what the consequences may be.

“We have the drinking ban in place and what the effect on that would be would have to be discussed as we can’t just let everyone run amok.”

The Thirsk Area Forum will meet at Rural Arts on Westgate on July 21, at 6.30pm.