DEBATE on the future of two Richmond car parks was again postponed when an unprecedented 800 protesters packed a hall.

The chairman of Richmondshire District Council's resources committee called off the meeting on health and safety grounds.

An exhibition to be held today to outline the proposals has also been postponed by the council, as has a public meeting next Wednesday in the town hall.

A committee meeting at the council chamber on March 17 was postponed for the same reason - 400 people turned up on that occasion.

A larger venue - Richmond Middle School hall - was booked for Wednesday night, when the committee was due to debate a proposal to sell off the council's Station Road and York Square car parks, as well as its town centre offices.

Proceeds would go towards the authority's proposed move to a new £4.5m headquarters at Colburn.

Boos and jeers greeted the arrival of Coun John Blackie, council leader.

A school technician was also subjected to verbal abuse as he explained that the hall was licensed - and therefore insured - for only 500 people, and urged protesters to go home.

Coun Wendy Morton, committee chairman, said the meeting could go ahead if there were fewer people in the hall. But the suggestion was shouted down and she said she had no option but to postpone the committee. Slow hand clapping, swearing and shouts of "out, out, out" followed.

Coun Russell Lord, Mayor of Richmond, appealed for calm and challenged the district council to withdraw its proposed sale of land and property. "You know what Richmond feels," he told the meeting. "We have shown it, we have talked about it, we have voted on it."

Yesterday, he said the ball was now in the district council's court.

"There was a superb turnout from the public and it's about time the district council realised how controversial these proposals are," he said.

"If the district council wishes to move, why should the people have to pay? Jobs and business will be lost.

"If they don't raise the money by selling the car parks, what will they sell next?"

The meeting had earlier accepted a petition with 3,872 signatures against the proposals.

It was organised by residents of The Green, who say their homes will be blighted by development of York Square car park for housing. They also believe the local economy will suffer if parking spaces are lost.

Tony Clark, the district council's deputy chief executive, said that the meeting would still go ahead because a decision had to be made.

He said: "We are considering the best location and date for the resources committee to reconvene, and we will publicise that information, with plenty of advance notice, in due course."

* See Widespread backing: page 3