PEOPLE protesting about the proposed sale of a town car park have vowed to fight on following a major setback in their campaign.

Councillors on Richmondshire District Council's resources committee voted to proceed with the sale of York Square car park in Richmond last Wednesday night at the Zetland Centre.

Council officers had also recommended that Station Road car park should be sold to fund the council's planned £4.5m move to Colburn, but that proposal was thrown out.

Councillors agreed that none of the authority's assets should be marketed until a full business and financial case has been put to the committee, but protesters say York Square should be saved now.

Town mayor Stuart Parsons said: "There were no figures or costings mentioned in any of the motions, so effectively, the council has been handed a blank cheque for this consultancy work to be carried out.

"At least we now know on what grounds we need to fight for York Square - let battle commence."

Under the council's proposals, 17 flats with car parking would be built on the York Square site.

Space would be left for 17 public car parking spaces and a picnic area, but there would be no space for coaches, which currently park on the site.

Lead protestor Margaret Gruffydd, who lives on The Green, near York Square, said: "We need to urge everyone to carry on with the campaign. It isn't over. We have just got to carry on fighting and we need people's support."

The campaign to save York Square has also won the backing of the Landmark Trust, which owns the historic Culloden Tower. It lies about 100m from the car park.

A spokesman for the trust said they were 'shocked and surprised' to learn of the possible development on the site.

Council officers believe selling the car park with land at Gatherley Road, Brompton on Swale, and the council's Richmond offices, is the best way to fund the new headquarters in Colburn.

Councillors agreed that a business plan, showing what the space and IT requirements were for the new building at Colburn, should be produced before a final decision is made.

The motions were put forward by Coun Wendy Moton and seconded by council leader John Blackie.

Council officers announced the proposal to sell the car parks, land and the office buildings in Richmond three months ago. Since then, the plans have attracted criticism from business leaders, residents, coach operators and the town's MP, William Hague.

Members of Richmond Business and Tourism Association said the car parks should be kept for the long-term prosperity of the town and last week protestors presented a petition with more than 7,000 signatures to Coun Blackie.

Residents said that selling the car parks would amount to asset stripping of Richmond, but council officers said the move was needed to raise funds for the switch to Colburn because the authority's Richmond offices are cramped and impractical.

Two previous attempts to hold the meeting to make a decision on the proposals had to be called off.

On the first occasion it was postponed after 400 people turned up.

The second time more than 800 people arrived and it was cancelled amid jeers and boos. Coun John Blackie had to be escorted to his car by police.

The decision was then taken to hold the meeting at the Zetland Centre, with a limited attendance of about 300.