COACH operators have threatened to stop going into Bedale because of the lack of parking bays, town councillors have been told.

Councillors agreed on Monday that a second parking bay should be marked out in North End, but insisted it must not interfere with access to one entrance to the parish church.

They said they were concerned North Yorkshire County Council appeared to be advocating an official traffic regulation order for the new bay despite an understanding at a site meeting that it should be an informal arrangement, so that the movements of church visitors were not disrupted.

Coun Ray Calvert, the mayor, told the finance and general purposes committee it had been agreed at the site meeting that markings for the existing coach bay in North End would be renewed and that a second bay would be made opposite the church.

But Coun Calvert added: "One of the provisos was that it should not be covered by a traffic regulation order so that it could be coned off for anything happening at the church, like a funeral or a wedding."

Wanda Reynolds, who lives in North End, told the committee: "The whole thing is open to a lot more discussion because the proposal is only part of the solution and I don't think it addresses the question of parking for churchgoers at all.

"There is quite a big problem there, because that is where they go not only for funerals and weddings but also on Sundays, particularly the elderly and a wheelchair user."

The Rev David Paton-Williams, the rector, said: "This is a very important location for elderly and disabled people going to church on Sundays and weekdays."

Coun Calvert said: "This is regarded as a temporary measure to try to overcome the problems

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