PLANS to turn a tourist information centre into a cafe with outdoor seating have been rejected by planners, who said the move would damage the nearby memorial gardens.

Richmond businessman Barry Proctor was chosen by the district council to take over the TIC building in the town’s Friary Gardens after funding for tourist information provision was withdrawn due to government budget cuts.

Mr Proctor’s plans for the building involve turning it into a small ice cream cafe with a visitor information point (VIP) and a small amount of outside cafe seating.

The plans for outdoor seating in the Friary Gardens sparked a large amount of public opposition with a petition and Facebook campaigns set up and a number of individual objections to the council.

At a meeting of the district council’s planning committee, which was attended by a large number of local residents, the committee voted to reject the plans on the grounds that it would damage the gardens and the nearby Grade 1 Greyfriars Tower.

The decision leaves the future of the TIC building in limbo, after it was confirmed last week that it would close on July 30, although a number of other smaller VIPs are scheduled to open this week around the town.

Speaking at the meeting, local ward member Stuart Parsons said: “I totally disapprove of this plan. I think it’s wrong to take something that is the jewel in Richmond’s crown, with a Grade 1 listed monument and the town’s war memorial, and try to put a commercial enterprise right in the middle of it all.

“What we have here is a proposal to destroy a wonderful open and relaxing space.”

Although the majority of people who responded to the application were against the proposal, there were a number of letters sent to the council by people who enjoy the gardens and would be happy to see refreshments available there.

However, Coun Jane Parlour, chairman of the planning committee, said: “I can honestly see nothing in this application that enhances the memorial gardens and the Greyfriars Tower.

“I feel that the way this is presented does nothing for this special area. There are a lot of unanswered questions about this application and how it would work.”

Mr Proctor attended the meeting but did not make any representations to the committee.

He declined to comment on the decision, saying that he would prefer to wait until he had decided what he planned to do.