Thirsk'S fledgling farmers' market is to stay on the northern side of the market place, despite concerns about the loss of parking spaces.

Hambleton District Council's cabinet yesterday decided to leave the market where it is, refusing to agree to Thirsk Town Council's plea for further consultation on the matter.

The town's Monday market is held on the other side of the square. Every second Monday in the month the farmers market of about 15 stalls takes up 36 car parking spaces.

Hambleton's director of planning and environmental services, Steve Quartermain, said he didn't see what consultation would achieve.

He said squeezing the farmers' market stalls alongside the other Monday market stalls on the southern side of the market place would be potentially unsafe for shoppers and traders. Any accident could leave the council open to prosecution.

Thirsk representative Coun Andrew Robinson, who is also the town's mayor, said there were many concerns about the farmers' market position. Talking to local councillors and business people would help the district council reach the right decision.

"Only 12 stalls are involved and if we don't get satisfaction, local people will probably park there and boycott it. We want consultation but have been robbed of it," he added.

At Monday's meeting of Thirsk Town Council, members were keen to stress they supported the principle of the farmers' market.

"It should be made clear to Hambleton District Council that we are not unsupportive of the market," said Coun Jim Jackson.

Coun Freda Roberts added: "We welcome the market, but we do need the car parking space."

Coun Andrew Robinson said: "I don't see the logic in disrupting all the parking at this side of the square, especially the disabled spaces, when there are empty stalls across the street."

* The question of the farmers' market in Northallerton is still hanging in the balance.

At the same cabinet meeting members backed away from a total commitment to keeping the monthly events on the Applegarth car park.

Instead, it was agreed to extend an original three-month pilot scheme for another six months to allow more time for investigations into alternative sites.

The placing of the markets on the Applegarth on the fourth Friday of every month has sparked opposition from the community, most of whom want to see the farmers' stalls as part of the traditional Northallerton market in the High Street on Wednesdays.

But the council's director of planning and environmental services Steve Quartermain warned that regular High Street traders saw the farmers as rivals and did not want the new stalls trading alongside them.