CAFÉ society could be coming to Tavistock once the coronavirus lockdown has been lifted, a town councillor has suggested.

Andy Hutton, who is deputy mayor of the town, suggested closing streets to traffic to allow cafés and restaurants to spread out into the road.

This would allow business to resume, he said, while allowing people to remain at a safe distance from one another.

Cllr Hutton said: ‘We have got a lot of good eateries in Tavistock and they are all going to have this problem. They need to keep people apart from one another.

‘If they could increase their seating area by letting people sit outside that would really help. It need not necessarily be all day but could perhaps just be in the evening.’

The suggestion comes as he calls on people in the town to put their own ideas forward for easing the town back into life after the lockdown.

‘The people of Tavistock have risen to the challenge of this horrendous virus and have done themselves and the town proud,’ he said.

‘Now, though, is the time to move forward as it looks in the next few weeks that there will be some relaxation of the isolation rules and life can go forward with a degree of normality. There is undoubtedly, however, going to be a new normal and this new normal is probably going to go on for a considerable length of time.

‘What an opportunity now for the town to move forward, getting businesses back to work as quickly and safely as possible.’

Karen Kestrell, who runs Karen’s coffee shop in Brook Street, said having more space to spread out outside would certainly help her when she opened up again. ‘I think it is a great idea,’ she said.

Seth Robertson, owner with his wife Sally of Robertson’s restaurant in Pepper Street, said: ‘It is a great idea, although we would have to work with the distribution lorries who need access. It would need thinking through.

‘It could have a very positive impact on air quality and the health and well-being of Tavistock and would encourage people to walk into town.’

Cllr Hutton said he was putting the idea on the table to encourage people to debate what life should look like after the pandemic.

‘People are beginning to think there might be an end in sight and it is what happens next that we need to consider.

‘Things are going to be different entirely and we don’t have to say we are going back to the way things were because we probably never will.’

He said that while the crisis had been ‘horrible’ for many people it had none the less had a silver lining — with a slower pace of life, less pollution and people get to know each other as they offered help to each other.

‘There are so many things about the last few weeks that have been positive.

‘We have enjoyed less traffic, more birdsong and in a strange way for many of us more community spirit.’

What should Tavistock life be like after lockdown? Write to [email protected]