A TEMPORARY scheme is being launched to alleviate parking problems around Northallerton's North Yorkshire Police headquarters following a U-turn by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Hambleton Council had previously offered part of its Crosby Road car park for police use after problems emerged with the force's Alverton Court staff congesting nearby residential streets with their parked cars.

The offer was never taken up but now the region's Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan has announced that there will be a deal after all.

In a meeting with officials and members of the public aimed at addressing the parking concerns, Ms Mulligan announced that the force will lease land on the council's Crosby Road Car Park to be used as additional police parking.

The scheme, which is expected to come into practice in April, will operate as on interim basis until a permanent solution can be found.

A raft of further measures were suggested at the meeting, which was attended by Hambleton District Council Leader Mark Robson, including introducing double yellow lines at junctions and along sections of narrow residential roads and installing bollards or signage to reduce parking on verges.

It was also suggested that the Residents Parking Scheme could be extended and that Crosby Road car park could become both long stay and short stay, and have its parking meters upgraded.

These ideas and suggestions will be looked into by the working group and a survey will be distributed to residents part-way through the pilot to evaluate its effectiveness.

Ms Mulligan said: “I’m pleased that there are a number of different options available for myself, the council, police and Highways to consider.

"Finding workable and affordable solutions will mean we all have to work together, in the public interest.

"I would particularly like to thank Cllr Robson for agreeing to the pilot, which I hope will considerably reduce the problems residents are experiencing and we are working to get the scheme up and running from the beginning of April.

“The police want to be good neighbours, and I hope that their relocation to the town centre will be seen by as many people as possible, to be a positive move.”

A spokesman for Hambleton District Council said: "The council is happy that the police have taken up its offer of leasing a section of its car park as an interim measure."