TELEVISION'S Countdown host Richard Whiteley has launched a scathing attack on potential traffic changes in Leyburn.

One idea under consideration is that free parking could be axed on the Market Square and replaced by pay-and-display or a disc system.

The potential changes has led to Mr Whiteley coming out with some fighting talk in his monthly column for a Dales magazine.

In it he attacks North Yorkshire County Council for suggesting traffic changes and wonders who in the council offices "woke up one morning and thought it would be a good idea to spend a lot of money sorting out problems in Leyburn".

But the county highway chief Mike Moore said things were only at the consultation stage and Mr Whiteley's article had been a little premature.

The television personality is unaware of any pressure for change, dubbing them as the town's "supposed problems".

He adds: "I think we are in grave danger of a massive Horlicks being committed here."

Mr Whiteley, who was a reporter and then anchorman at YTV's Calendar news programme, has more than a passing interest in Leyburn. He lives nearby and shops there.

Writing in his monthly column in Dales Life, Mr Whiteley, said ideas like the traffic scheme for Leyburn "did not just happen".

"Has there been pressure from the town to introduce new traffic management and parking charges? I don't think so. Has there been a history of accidents or fatalities in the town? People find it hard to recall one."

Mr Whiteley said the charm of Leyburn was the fact that it had market square parking and people could nip in and out of the shops at will. Leyburn's success was its individual and traditional charm. "Leave it alone," he demands.

If there was money to be spent on glossy leaflets or recruiting management companies in the interest of road safety and traffic flow, he suggested they divert these funds. They should go to renewing the dozens of direction signs on all classes of road which are peeling, dirty, faded and thoroughly illegible.

"And before Leyburn Square becomes one big Horlicks, please let the council back off and leave us alone. We will cope, thank you, as we always have."

A spokesman for the county council said they were producing a traffic management strategy for Leyburn along with other market towns.

The first of some workshops had been held to engage stakeholder groups, the district council and town council, community groups as well as schools.

One idea put forward for consultation was whether market place parking should remain free. Suggestions had ranged from pay-and-display to a disc system in a bid to prevent people parking all day.

The council had consulted 10pc of the community, including Leyburn and outlying areas, to get views on a range of traffic issues.

He stressed there would be full consultation before decisions were made.

* See page 9 for local view