EXPERIMENTAL parking restrictions in Osmotherley have been made permanent.

A 12-month clearway order to stop visitors parking along the side of the road in the Sheepwash Area of the village was made permanent at a meeting of the county committee for Hambleton on Monday.

In the past, vehicles parked on the verge of the Osmotherley to Swainby road obstructed traffic, including fire and rescue vehicles.

Since the clearway order was introduced in November last year, police have been issuing warning notices and tickets to offending vehicles.

A letter of objection to the scheme from an Acklam resident feared that the restrictions, coupled with a shortage of parking spaces, would make it difficult for visitors to enjoy the area. He also said that respectable motorists were being penalised for the unacceptable actions of a minority of drivers.

At the meeting, an Osmotherley resident voiced concerns that the restrictions would make it difficult for him to occasionally park vehicles necessary to carry out repairs and maintenance to his adjacent land.

The committee agreed to amend the wording of the order to accommodate this and to make the restrictions permanent.