COUNCILLORS smarting over plans to turn a Knaresborough shoe shop into a tattoo studio, despite their objections, have come up with a long-term plan to define its prime shopping area.

Knaresborough Town Council objected to Harrogate Borough Council's planners over conversion of the shop in Castlegate - not because they objected to the practice of tattooing, but because they felt that it diluted the centre's key shopping area.

Earlier, the council had objected successfully to a tattooing studio taking over a former florist's shop in the High Street.

Their objections were upheld because the proposed shop was in the primary shopping area.

Knaresborough's latest objection failed because it was not in the heart of the shopping zone.

Now, in a bid to more clearly define the major shopping streets, the council has decided to amend or extend Knaresborough's designated shopping areas