ANGRY locals have criticised plans to cut the time limit on parking bays in the middle of a popular market town.

North Yorkshire County Council is looking into reducing the time motorists can park in its bays on Millgate and Kirkgate, in Thirsk.

At present locals can park for two hours in the bays for free but the plan will see that time halved although there will still be no charge.

Several groups including Thirsk Town Council have been consulted and they are firmly against the scheme.

Town councillor Freda Roberts said: "To do this is totally useless.

"Two hours in Kirkgate is fine but one hour is not enough to go to the dentists, the World of James Herriot or to a St Mary’s Church service.

"It’s not enough time to go into the Market Place and I think we should oppose this very strongly."

The town council is to write to the county authority to strongly oppose the idea.

County councillor Gareth Dadd, who covers Thirsk, also opposes the idea as does Sowerby Parish Council which neighbours the town.

A county council spokesman said: "The council is currently consulting on the reduction of parking times in Kirkgate and Millgate to one hour to make this consistent with parking restrictions in the rest of the town.

"As you may know Hambleton District Council has introduced parking charges in the Market Place with the first hour free.

"In response to that and to prevent displacement of parking from the town centre car parks to neighbouring streets, the county council has introduced one hour limited waiting disc parking into several streets in the town.

"A one hour limited wait in Kirkgate and Millgate would therefore maintain this consistency."