CITY centre workers have come under fire from council chiefs for taking up parking spaces needed for shoppers.

Parking in Ripon is at a premium following the start of redevelopment work west of the market place.

The building site previously had parking for 180 cars, but only 50 spaces are left.

Additional temporary parking has been provided at Ripon Rugby Club.

However, workers are choosing to take up the spaces at the redevelopment site.

Councillor Don Mackenzie, Harrogate Borough Council cabinet member for planning and transport, said he was disappointed that more workers were not taking advantage of the free car parking at the rugby club.

He said: "We have just five spaces fewer now than we did before the work started.

"This includes some parking on the market square, except on Thursdays, which is market day.

"To find more parking spaces in a tight city centre like Ripon is a challenge.

"But the rugby club is not far to walk and it is a shame that fewer than half the spaces are being used.

"We hope that everyone in the city will pull together during these works.

"When the redevelopment is complete it will certainly bring a boost to Ripon's economy. But we have to try to minimise the negative impact in the meantime."

In a bid to stop workers using the remaining spaces at the redevelopment site, the council is to make a traffic order reducing the maximum stay to four hours.

The council is urging market traders not to park all day Thursday in the city centre.

Officials hope traders will instead park at the rugby club once they have unloaded.

Highway staff also hope to persuade Ripon Football Club to allow motorists to use the 40 parking spaces at its ground.

A previous request by the council was rejected by club officials.

A supermarket, three shop units, a road eastwards from Blossomgate, a car park for 180 cars and 21 apartments are being built at the site. Work is expected to take two years.