A PETITION containing the names of more than 19,000 people opposed to plans for car parking charges in four towns has been handed to council bosses.

Campaigners protesting against the proposed charges in the North Yorkshire market towns of Northallerton, Bedale, Stokesley and Thirsk, have been collecting signatures for the past three months.

Public meetings are planned in Northallerton and Bedale to decide whether to hold parish referendums on the issue.

Each of the four towns was represented as the petition was handed over to councillors Arthur Barker and Brian Phillips, the leader and deputy leader of Hambleton District Council, which is proposing the charges to plug an estimated £450,000 funding shortfall.

Rosemary Dalton, who runs the Yorkshire Store, in Stokesley, said: "In smaller market towns such as ours, independent retailers are not having an easy time because we cannot compete with the larger companies.

"A lot of people I have spoken to feel very resentful about the possibility of being charged.

"Everyone will be affected, but in Stokesley, we are particularly vulnerable.

"We have a number of units in the town that have been empty for 18 months.

"If the parking charges are brought in, there is the possibility that Stokesley will end up as a ghost town, full of things like banks, estate agents and charity shops.

"We are all trying to run businesses, and we should not be forced to fight the very council that was elected to represent our best interests."

Yvonne Rose, chairwoman of Bedale Chamber of Trade and Tourism, said: "These parking charges could tip some businesses over the edge. One of the few unique attractions market towns can offer is free parking."

Northallerton was represented by Angie Shuker, manager of Lewis and Cooper, in High Street, while Andy Trueman, who runs the Johnsons butcher's shop, in Market Place, Thirsk, spoke for his town.

Receiving the petition, Coun Barker said: "We have held extensive consultations and have been listening to the views of the residents of Hambleton, as well as those of other audiences.

"I am not going to pre-empt any decision of the council. These matters will be put before the council, and we expect to make a decision on them by mid-June."

Bedale residents will meet in the Chantry Hall, High Street, Bedale, at 7.30pm on Friday, to discuss a proposed referendum. A meeting of electors will take place in the Catholic Church Hall, in Thirsk Road, Northallerton, at 7pm next Wednesday.

Referendums will be triggered in both parishes if there is sufficient support from those attending the parish meetings.

The district council is expected to vote on the plans next month.