CLOSING Blackburn's Church Street to traffic is part of a plan by the council to make the town centre more pedestrian friendly.

The idea is that people will be able to enjoy strolling between the railway station and the town hall in an area that's a pleasure to walk in.

Therefore the idea of putting a metal fence up along the Darwen Street perimeter of the Cathedral grounds would go against the whole concept of a relaxed environment.

But such a fence is exactly what the Cathedral authorities want to do if Blackburn with Darwen Council agrees to allow two shops opposite their entrance in Darwen Street to be turned into yet another town centre pub.

They say that after Friday or Saturday nights their grounds are already littered with condoms, needles, bottles and cans and suffer from vandalism.

Anyone who drives down Darwen Street early on a Saturday morning will find it awash with fast food containers and appreciate the litter problem the Cathedral authorities face.

But they are also concerned that yet more night-time venues could see the dimly lit grounds becoming a haunt for prostitutes.

They have already successfully fought off an attempt to turn the former Carrots building - between Church Street and the grounds - into a club.

The fears of church leaders are quite understandable. The grounds of Blackburn Cathedral should be a pleasant haven of tranquillity away from traffic and the shopping hordes.

They must not, under any circumstances, be allowed to become a haunt of prostitutes, drunks, vandals or even litter louts.

But building a protective metal fence around a such a beautiful part of the town centre is not the way to proceed.

The answer is for the local authority to ensure that the grounds are policed with such vigour that no one would dare risk illegal activity.

That means enough police to reassure church leaders - and council staff quickly removing any litter.