Councillors in Oswestry have been warned they risk damaging efforts to bring a continental-style cafe culture to the town if they crack down on tables and chairs outside pubs and cafes.

The warning from Tony Powell, landlord of The Griffin Inn in Leg Street, was prompted by councillors’ concerns over the increased use of tables and chairs outside premises in the town centre.

Members of Oswestry Town Council raised fears at a meeting last week that street furniture outside pubs in Bailey Head was affecting the general use of the square and could impact on traders on market days.

Councillor Betty Gull told the meeting one row of tables quickly progressed into more.

“A public square should be for general use,” she said. “The historic use for that square is markets.”

But Mr Powell warned today any move to clamp down on tables and chairs in the town centre would be a backward step for Oswestry.

He said: “I can’t believe the council is making a fuss about this at the same time as tourist places such as Chester and York are trying to do the opposite.

“Everyone wants to bring a family-friendly cafe culture to towns and having tables and chairs outside pubs and cafes does that.

“It would be a massive backward step for Oswestry if they started trying to reduce tables and chairs outside businesses.”

Mr Powell, who has run the Griffin for 11 years, added: “Some pubs are dead on their feet because of the current economic situation.

“The last thing they need is any plan to stop them from trading the best they can.”