AT TIME of writing this leading article, Leyburn's traffic management strategy was due to get a good airing at a public meeting in the town. We suspect last night's meeting will have had its stormy moments,

It's fair to say the strategy, as set out in the consultation leaflet prepared by North Yorkshire County Council's highways consultants mochelparkman, has come as a surprise to residents.

Although the strategy has been in the course of preparation for 18 months, this is the first chance the general public has seen it. Many are not happy.

What has stuck in the craw for Leyburn folk is the spin placed upon the parking proposals in the leaflet. Of the two options considered, a disc parking scheme is almost rejected out of hand on the grounds of cost. No explanation is given as to why printing and distributing the discs should cost so much money.

The alternative, pay and display, is clearly considered the best option and the leaflet doesn't pull its punches in recommending that course of action. Residents, and businesses, feel the county council should not be steering the debate in such a way.

Parking charges in market towns are contentious at the best of times. But in small towns such as Leyburn, they can make the difference between success and failure. Larger towns may have sufficient retailing attractiveness to stand modest charges. Leyburn, on the other hand, is not in that position despite improving its retail "offer" greatly in recent years. The town does have a problem with some motorists using the square as an all-day parking facility but pay and display is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Disc parking permits, especially if sponsored, can be a very cost effective way of managing the issue.

The county council may rue the way its leaflet has been prepared. Leyburn clearly feels it is being steamrolled into parking charges it doesn't want - or require.