RESIDENTS upset the character of a village street is being changed by modern developments are urged to act to protect it.

Sowerby Parish Council has voiced concerns regularly over changes to Front Street including the replacing of wooden windows by plastic ones.

Some of the village is covered by an Article Four directive from Hambleton District Council to prevent this taking place.

Front Street is not and now the district council is to work with the parish members to rectify this.

Mick Jewitt, the district’s head of planning policy and economic development, said the two should talk about the issue.

He said: "We did not have the resources until recently due to our work on the Local Development Framework policy.

"I’m proposing that we now take a report regarding creating an Article Four to the district’s cabinet committee in September.

"We would talk to the parish council before that about what areas it wants covering and we’re aware it’s something you’ve wanted for many years.

"An Article Four should not be made lightly as this can remove owners development rights which may have been created by the Government.

"If we bring an Article Four in then we have to have a hard-line approach when using it."

The idea has been welcomed by the parish council keen to preserve Front Street from too much change.

Councillor Mark Robson, chairman of the council, said: "Front Street should be included in an Article Four more than some of the side streets which are at the moment.

"The parish council will discuss this and look to take it on."