The cathedral's consultant architect Colin Kerr said the large space in this area of West Street had a huge potential for the city – and put forward ideas which could dramatically transform it.

He was immediately supported by a senior member of the city council.

"We have a tremendous opportunity for developing this into one of the most significant spaces in Europe," said Cllr Richard Plowman.

"There are few opportunities left in most cities where you could do that."

The idea of turning a large part of West Street into a fully-pedestrianised piazza was first put forward in a town plan for Chichester, endorsed by the city council four years ago, following public consultation

However, this did not suggest removing any of the row of trees, which were planted along West Street in the early part of the 20th century.

Speaking at the annual parish meeting, Mr Kerr said they now obscured views of the cathedral, the bell-tower, and – looking from the west – the City Cross.

He told the meeting after 40 years of 'almost frantic activity, fund-raising and restoration' for the cathedral itself, attention was now turning to the bell-tower, which was clad in stone he described as 'not wonderfully strong.'

It wore in a particularly unhelpful way, with bits coming off in chunks, which was why it had been wearing a 'great hairnet' for the past ten years. The hairnet was going to have to be removed shortly to take away lots of the bits of stone in it.

The bell-tower was a huge project which the cathedral was going to have to turn its mind to. It was unique – Chichester was the only place in the country where a medieval bell-tower like this one could be found, and it was a splendid building.

Mr Kerr went on to criticise road surfaces in West Street, close to the cathedral and the bell-tower, as 'multi-coloured cloned blocks.'

Along with parked delivery vehicles, he said, these were in an area occupied by one of the great glories of Europe.

"Perhaps we need to look at a strategic landscaping including the removal of some trees," he asserted.

"I am not suggesting you denude the city of trees, but the question is how to get a balance."

This space had huge potential for the city, but at present one could walk past and miss it.

The City Cross was a wonderful building, but again had the same surface around it.

"This building needs to have a setting," he declared. "You should not allow the wretched motor-car and delivery van to determine the appearance of your city."

If you stood at the Cross and looked down West Street, you could not see the bell-tower at all, because of the trees.

Looking towards the Cross along West Street, what you actually saw was an obstacle course, with the trees, a narrow pavement, bollards and low walls.

"This could be a really gracious pavement for people to go along," said Mr Kerr.

A great space which was opened up when houses came down in West Street during the 19th century was in many ways all to no avail.

"The cathedral is going to have to turn its mind to what happens to the bell-tower, and there is also a space around this building," he added.

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