Crumbs cafe gets to keep pavement tables

Crumbs cafe in Stroud (see photo) was threatened with losing some of it's tables - Highways had a complaint from the Stroud Access Group - however rather than suggest tables should be positioned better they said the number of tables should be reduced - after meetings with John Marjoram on the Town Council a compromise was made but temporary barriers are needed around the tables.

In my view tables can easily be placed to ensure access for push chairs and people with disabilities on that wide pavement. The temporary barrier around tables is unnecessary - a point I made to The Citizen. Pavement cafes have been shown to act as a traffic calming measure and increase the sense of vitality of an area. We should be doing more to support such businesses not making it harder for them.