A COUNCIL has been accused of jumping the gun by advertising for archaeologists to dig in car parks, before a decision on the sites' future has been taken.

Protestors angry at plans to sell off Richmond's Station Road and Yorke Square car parks for housing say the move is a "slap in the face".

But Richmondshire District Council said the advert was part of a detailed costing exercise and did not mean the developments would go ahead.

The council proposes to use the proceeds of the sale towards its move to a £4.5m purpose-built headquarters at Colburn.

Tony Clark, council deputy chief executive, confirmed an advert inviting tenders for a archaeological evaluation of the two car parks had appeared in The Guardian on April 6.

"The tender would show how much it would cost to do the archaeological evaluation if a decision was taken to go ahead with the development," he said.

"We are taking the time to explore all the options and gather detailed costings to provide accurate information for members who will take the decision on whether the developments should go ahead."

A resources committee in August last year agreed to give wider-ranging authority for officers to progress planning application work, including tendering for such work.

A council spokeswoman said the authority had also received a request under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the advert and, would respond within the agreed deadline.

Protestors who formed the Save Our Shire group, which aims to fight plans to sell off district-owned property, say the advert showed the district council was determined to press ahead with development of the car parks.

Stuart Parsons, SOS spokes-man, said: "The council has not even agreed to proceed with their proposals and yet they are already planning to dig up the car parks."

The advert said the work would probably take place between June and August, which protestors say is the busiest period for car parking.

l See HQ move, page 3