Oxford City Council officers urged on by conservationists tried to block plans to bring a cafe culture to Broad Street.

They feared that tables and chairs outside one eaterie would 'clutter' the road and block views of the buildings.

Councillors ignored them, thank goodness.

Oxford is a beautiful city and we should never take its architectural treasures for granted.

Those who battle to protect its history often deserve our respect and gratitude.

But not on this occasion.

They sounded as if they would like us all to stay out of Oxford completely, so their precious museum is unsullied by life.

Oxford is a living and vibrant city which has nothing to fear and much to gain from injecting a little Continental vibrancy to its beautiful but slightly boring boulevards.

Visit a city like Prague and you will see historic squares of even greater magnificence than ours greatly enhanced by the attractive cafes which spill on to their cobbles.

The redevelopment of the Westgate Shopping Centre is further evidence that, year by year, Oxford must embrace the future as surely as it defends its past.

The cafe owners will feel they have overcome the major obstacle to their plans for al fresco dining.

But they're wrong.

Another, much greater, challenge awaits them: the weather.