A bid for another continental style dining area in Southend High Street is likely to be thwarted.

Tesco Metro wants to puts chairs and tables outside its store where customers can sit and eat their hot and cold takeaway food.

However, Southend Council officers are recommending councillors refuse the plan when they meet tomorrow night because of insufficient room outside the store.

McDonald's at the top of the High Street was given the go-ahead to have outdoor seating in 1994. Three years later the restaurant's other High Street outlet followed suit.

Planning officers are concerned that a florist's and greengrocer's kiosk in the centre of the street, lampposts, bins and seating are too close to Tesco to make the plan viable.

A planning spokesman said: "Weather permitting, outdoor facilities can add to the liveliness and attraction of an area as experienced in the many seafront locations in the borough.

"However, the issue of obstruction to pedestrian flows, impact on neighbouring uses - the ability to window shop - and the overall appearance and attractiveness of the High Street need to be taken into account.

"In this particular case it is felt that because of the restricted width of the High Street, its busy nature and the existence of several elements of street furniture and kiosks that further obstructions to pedestrian flows should be avoided."

He added that the principle of the scheme was supported and the council was undertaking an appraisal of the High Street which would include places where seating would fit in.

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