PLANS for a “pavement café” in St Helens town centre have been withdrawn.

An application was submitted by Ian Pitts last month for the change of use from a public highway to a pavement café along Ormskirk Street.

The café was intended to be an extension to The Secret Garden and The Church, both on Ormskirk Street and owned by Mr Pitts.

However, a notice on St Helens Council’s planning portal has confirmed the original application has now been withdrawn.

The proposals had received an objection from the council’s Highways department.

Dave Whittleston, senior transport officer, said: “While the site is located within a pedestrian zone, and the footway is relatively wide, there are concerns about the need to locate the proposed seating area in close proximity to the carriageway, where there are high frequency bus services throughout the day.

“Buses travelling in close proximity to customers.

“Furthermore, given the need to locate the seating away from the face of the building, this effectively creates a tunnelling effect, through a much-reduced footway width, with an extremely high volume of pedestrian activity.

“Highway support is not afforded and objection is raised, on the basis that it would impede pedestrian movement, to the possible detriment of highway and pedestrian safety, contrary to Policies CP 1 – Ensuring Quality Development in St Helens and CP 2 – Creating an Accessible St Helens of the adopted Core Strategy.”