ROADS around Hutton Rudby village green can only be widened if alternative recreation space is found, parish councillors have learned.

Widening was generally seen as the only long-term solution to traffic congestion and the erosion of verges.

But Rudby Parish Council, which owns the green, may now have to think about placing extra boulders and concrete blocks at vulnerable stretches to protect the grass.

Some success has been achieved by this at badly-eroded stretches near the Spar shop and Bay Horse pub, but councillors had hoped some road widening would be permitted.

Speaking at the latest parish meeting, chairman Coun John Richardson updated members about correspondence with North Yorkshire County Council legal department.

Summarising a letter from the department, he said: "Laws prevent the replacement of village greens with tar or other hard surfaces. However, concrete blocks may be permitted and further advice is available."

The council had also received a reply from a parish council advisory group.

Reading from it, he said: "If the parish council is the owner of a village green, it enjoys greater powers. Even if it is not, it should able to get advice from Hambleton Council.

He continued quoting from the reply, emphasising: "The green is for residents, not the general public, and the parish council must generally protect it for recreation.

"A green cannot be used for car parking, even if the parish council wishes, because the law requires it be freely available for residents.

"There are no laws to de-register parts of a green, even if it is for a good cause or the green was wrongly registered. The only exception is when other nearby land is surrendered in exchange. Permission for this is required from the Secretary of State."

Summing up, he said: "It seems that it's just not possible to widen the roads."

Coun Stewart Robertson said: "The boulders seem to be working" and Coun Peter Markey added: "They have been praised for their effectiveness,"

Should boulders be placed elsewhere, Coun Richardson asked. "How about the areas of village green at North End, for example?"

Councillors would again look at the different parts of the green and consider boulders and reinforcement blocks at the next meeting.