TWO open-air cafés could be operating on Tavistock's Bedford Square next year after town councillors gave the idea the thumbs-up at their meeting last week.

Lisa Hair, of Duke's Coffee House, and Jack Parris, who owns the Pannier Market Café, have come up with a plan to put eight to ten tables with chairs and parasols on either side of the square.

At a meeting of the properties committee, Cllr Caroline Keane said the idea of tables and chairs would be cheerful. 'It would actually enhance the whole square rather than keeping it empty for the odd thing which comes up.'

Cllr Ted Sherrell said it was up to the council to agree 'one way or another' the principle of the suggestion.

'The use of the word parasol would suggest a triumph of hope over experience!' he added.

Cllr Norma Woodcock suggested waterproof parasols — she supported the idea but had 'slight reservations' about the number of tables.

Cllr Judith Williams said: 'I thought the idea was to have the area walked on and not blocked up by furniture.'

She asked if the traders had considered insurance, if the café proprietors were to have priority over other people who might want to book the square, and questioned the use of resin tables and chairs.

She said: 'Other establishments have had to put in high-quality wrought-iron furniture.

'If you are going to put in that many tables you might as well not have bothered to do the square in the first place.'

Cllr Jenny Metcalfe was worried chairs and tables might get in the way if there was an emergency.

But Cllr Ken Sanders said the cafe proprietors were confident they could site their operation so that they did not interfere with access. The reason for the booking system was to ensure Bedford Square did not get over-booked, he said.

'They understand there are certain situations when they would not be able to trade,' he said.

Mrs Hair said the scheme would require planning permission which would take several weeks — she did not consider it viable to try and trade from the square this year.

'Realistically, this is only the very first step and there are a lot more things to be done.

'We will have missed the best part of this summer, but hopefully if we could get everything in place we could be up and running for next Easter.

'As far as I am concerned we want to work together on this and complement each other. I don't want to do this half-heartedly, it's got to be done properly.'

Sandra Parris of the Pannier Market Café said it was 'brilliant' the council had agreed to back the scheme in principle, although she agreed the open-air café would have to wait until next year.

'If we could get something on the square, hopefully it will start bringing people back into the town again,' she said.

Planning officer Edward Persse confirmed planning consent for change of use would be needed to put tables and chairs on the square, as there is no café immediately adjacent.