A MAJOR review of council highway depots in North Yorkshire is being carried out.

Changes are planned at several depots including Bainbridge, Easingwold, Thirsk, West Ayton, Skipton, Ryedale, and Pateley Bridge.

Negotiations are under way between the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Mouchel Parkman, North Yorkshire County Council's agents for part of the Bainbridge depot to be used by the National Park.

A new salt barn is planned at Leyburn, and a planning application is to be submitted for the Thirsk depot.

The county council wants to relocate the West Ayton depot to Seamer Carr, while at Whitby there are plans to develop the existing depot on the town's Stainsacre Industrial Estate.

However, a proposal to establish a park and ride service on a site in the same area might be used as a temporary site for travellers during the Whitby regatta weekend.

Mouchel is liaising with the Fitzwilliam Malton Estate regarding to the existing depot and talks are under way with a developer for an alternative facility on the Malton Industrial Estate.