A NORTH town is in turmoil over plans to finance a £4.5m council move by selling local assets.

Repeated attempts by local councillors to discuss the issue have led to meetings being called off because too many people have turned up.

In the face of the unprecedented protests in Richmond, North Yorkshire, efforts are being made to find a bigger venue.

On Wednesday night, Richmondshire District Council's resources committee attempted to hold a meeting in Richmond School's Middle Hall, thought to be the largest venue in the district.

It can hold 500 people, but when more than 800 turned up in the hall, blocking the fire exits, chairwoman Wendy Morton was forced to call a halt on safety grounds.

Council leader John Blackie, who remained behind to meet some of the protestors, later had to be escorted to his car by police.

A meeting earlier last month, at Swale House, which is owned by the council, also had to be cancelled on similar grounds when more than 200 people crowded into the chamber.

The growing row centres on the authority's already-agreed move to purpose-built premises in nearby Colburn and, in particular, its efforts to finance it.

Officials are recommending the sale and development of two car-parks -at Station Road and York Square -and the sale of five council buildings -Swale House, Friars Wynd, Frenchgate House and numbers 20 and 33 Frenchgate, as well as land at Gatherley Road, Brompton-on-Swale.

The buildings, some of them listed but regarded as sub-standard for a modern authority, would be sold for offices or housing.

Protestors are also concerned about the possible sell-off of play areas and open spaces following a Government directive to councils to examine their landholdings.

A decision on the latter is not expected until next month, but The Northern Echo can reveal that officials are about to recommend that all the play areas, and the majority of the open spaces, should be retained.

A petition against the sales has collected 4,000 signatures -equivalent to half the town's population, with more expected. Protest leader Emma Gruffydd said: "Richmond is a precious place and it must not be turned into a ghost town. We will double our turnout at the reconvened meeting."

Coun Blackie said: "This is something we have to debate. No decision has been made and they are only proposals at the moment." He said the reconvened meeting would be in Richmond borough at the largest venue they could secure.