POLLS will be held into controversial plans to introduce parking charges in part of the region.

It has been confirmed that residents in two of the affected towns will be able to make their feelings clear in votes next month.

Campaigners hope the results will add to the pressure on Hambleton District Council, in North Yorkshire, to drop the threat of charges completely.

The first of the polls will be held in Bedale on June 18, with voting in Bedale Hall from 4pm to 9pm.

The second poll, in Northallerton, will take place at the same time the following day in Hambleton Forum.

A poll can be held if at least ten electors or a third of those present at a properly convened meeting support a public vote.

The first poll was confirmed at a meeting on Friday in Chantry Hall, Bedale. More than a dozen members of the public attended and all voted for the poll.

The second poll was confirmed at a meeting in the Catholic Church Hall, in Northallerton, attended by about 30 people who voted in favour of it.

The poll will ask: "Should Hambleton District Council introduce car parking charges?"

Yvonne Rose, the chairwoman of Bedale Chamber of Trade and Commerce, welcomed the polls.

She said: "We will be out there with banners and loudspeakers.

"It is people's last chance to influence councillors and I think it really can have an effect on them.

"This will be the electors telling their representatives what they really think and that they have to listen."

In Northallerton, Councillor John Coulson said: "It is vitally important that people turn out to vote. If they do not, the opposition' will say people are not interested and vote for the charges.

"We do not want apathy. It is essential people vote."

In 2005, Hambleton District Council approved the idea of charges as part of its financial strategy. Next month, councillors will vote to adopt charges and set their levels. The council wants to introduce the charges to meet an expected shortfall of £450,000 in the wake of its 2005 budget cap by the Government.

Deputy leader Coun Brian Phillips said yesterday: "We want to preserve the services we provide and we know we need another funding channel to sustain them because we cannot raise council tax. The alternative is services will have to be cut."

He also expressed concern at the wording of the poll question, and said: "It is worded for a predictable answer."