AN attempt to have the number of car parking spaces in Richmond's Market Place set in stone has failed to win the backing of a Government inspector.

The town's business and tourism association challenged Richmondshire District Council when its blueprint for the future indicated that attempts to rejuvenate the economy of the town centre might mean some parking places would have to be sacrificed.

But a report, to be discussed at a council meeting on Thursday, confirms the local authority's solicitors have won.

A ruling by the Department of the Environment's Neil Holt suggests it would not be practical for the authority to commit itself to a policy which would protect every space in its Local Plan.

Mr Holt's report concludes: "While, clearly, the loss of parking spaces should be minimised, I accept that it would be unrealistic for the plan to state that there will be no parking loss in the Market Place area.''

The decision is a blow for Richmond Business and Tourism Association, which is worried fewer parking spaces will mean fewer shoppers.

The closure of the flood-damaged Mercury Bridge cost local traders an estimated £13m in 2000; the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease could mean little improvement this year.

The association has refused to be mollified by the introduction of more free parking on the edge of the town centre, or by a promise to enforce the disc-parking system more rigorously.

It claims the council should not even be considering reducing parking spaces until it has had time to establish if either has had an impact on town centre trade.

Mr Holt's report said: "It would appear that the disc zone has not been rigidly enforced in the past, with a significant proportion of spaces occupied by single vehicles all day.

"A more effective enforcement, ensuring a greater turnover of spaces, should more than offset any loss of spaces from the environmental and public transport improvement works that are proposed."