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St. Dunstan's, as it is now

Under the unlikely proposals, local councillor Paul Murphy sees the grass verge in front of the church, once the site of public toilets, as a focus of the social whirl.

Traffic would be barred from the area except for access for religious ceremonies and the plaza, surrounded by the Museum and Ben Brierley pubs, would be furnished with caf? bar tables and seating.

There, workers, churchgoers, shoppers and residents would relax and enjoy iced coffees and cool beers on sunny afternoons and balmy evenings as is the norm in towns and villages across Europe.

Never one to bow to doubters, Paul is adamant the scenes holiday memories are made of could become a part of everyday life in the Moston high street.

He said: "When you go abroad to Spain, Italy, France, it's part of the culture. I don't see why it can't be the same here.

"I see a time when I'll be sipping a cool drink on the plaza with the sound of trickling water from the fountain in the background right in the centre of Moston Lane with no traffic fumes.

"I want to see traffic redirected away from the centre of Moston Lane and people using existing car parks instead of clogging up the road. I'm convinced. With a bit of imagination, it can be done."