Ideas for the future of controversial car-park

Yorke Square in Richmond, which was saved by campaigners from an illegal planning application when the council tried to sell it off for housing, will be the subject of a month-long consultation period in June.

At a special drop-in event, to be held at The Station on June 10, community groups will be invited to contribute to a range of displays showing possible uses for the site as a "community resource."

Richmondshire District Council leader Coun Melva Steckles said: "We are starting from a blank page - we want residents from across Richmondshire to help us fill it in."

The authority's attempts to build 14 flats on the site of the car park came to a halt in 2006, after community group Save Our Shire took the authority to court.

The council, which had planned to sell the land for housing in order to fund a controversial move to £5m headquarters at Colburn, was forced to pay more than £17,000 in legal costs after a High Court judge quashed the planning permission. Councillors later agreed to drop the plans.

Councillors Linda Curran and Stuart Parsons, ward members for Richmond West, issued a joint statement saying: "It is very important that everyone who wants to has their say on the future of Yorke Square, so whether it's at the event in person, at a Community Office, over the phone or online, we hope residents take this opportunity to make their voices heard."

John McDonald, of Save Our Shire, said: "Developing Yorke Square as a top quality car park will draw visitors to the riverside and all its amenities.

"Making residents and visitors all feel welcome in this way is crucial to Richmond's future prosperity."

In addition to the main event on June 10, displays and information are available at community offices and Tourist Information Centres, together with a display at Yorke Square itself. There will be a phone number to ring, and a dedicated website at www.richmondshire.gov.uk/yorkesquarecarpark . The consultation period will run until June 25.