THE battle over the future of council assets in Richmond has taken more twists and turns after Conservatives pledged to save the Station Road car park from development.

The announcement led to claims that Tories on the district council were trying to blame officers for the row, which erupted when residents learned of the proposed sale of two car parks for housing to help fund a HQ move to new headquarters in Colburn.

The Conservative group on the council announced on Wednesday it would oppose any officers' recommendations to sell the car park.

Council leader Coun John Blackie said his group had always been against the sale but had not had the chance to debate the issue in public.

But council chief executive, Harry Tabiner, said the announcement appeared to heap blame on officers for a report which recommended the sale of assets.

"It would be completely wrong to assume that the recommendations were solely officer-generated," said Mr Tabiner. "The recommendations, including the one about Station Road car park, emerged from a series of meetings with members, including the leader and deputy leader."

Coun Blackie said his group he had been fully aware in August that assets would need to be sold to fund the move.

"However, the assets were not specified," he said. "The selection of Station Road car park was a clause officers put forward and the Conservative group does not agree with it.

"It is an asset sale too far, as it is required to support the town centre of Richmond and its traders."

Asked why the Tories had waited to make public their views, Coun Blackie said earlier comment would have been seen as electioneering.

"It became a political football and, if we had come straight out and said it after the last meeting at the end of March, which was abandoned when nearly 1,000 people turned up, people would have accused me of only saying it because we were concerned about the county council elections," he said.

Coun Stuart Parsons, Mayor of Richmond, welcomed the potential removal of Station Road from the proposals.

"I am relieved one site appears to be saved, but we will still fight for Yorke Square car park and for the council offices because there is a cheaper solution to this problem - refurbishing the existing accommodation," he said.

The Tories are to call for assurances that council tax payers will not fund the move to the £4m premises at Colburn.

The group also wants an independent appraisal of all options available to the authority to finance the move, along with a detailed business plan, costings and likely efficiency savings, before assets are sold.

Mr Tabiner said that not selling the Station Road site would leave a financial shortfall - possibly as much as £1m. If this sum was borrowed, it would put 2pc on council tax.

The resources committee meeting is on June 22. An officers' report is due on Wednesday.