SENIOR councillors have done a U-turn over controversial farmers' markets in Northallerton.

Members of Hambleton District Council cabinet yesterday agreed a package of dramatic changes to the site and schedule of the monthly markets.

A report from a review group urged the market be moved to the north of the town hall and be held on the third Wednesday of the month.

This is exactly what campaigners have been calling for since Friday markets were launched on the town's Applegarth car park late last year.

Protesters claimed the site was not central enough to bring good trade and that the proper place for the farmers' stalls was by the traditional Wednesday market in the High Street.

The situation hit such a low that a farmers' market boss recently warned the event could collapse unless changes were made.

To accommodate the market, taxis will be moved to a site in front of Grovers for trading days. An application will also be made to North Yorkshire County Council for a permanent move of the rank.

Existing market rules and charges will apply to the farmers.

The review group wants the new site to be made available as soon as possible, scrapping a six-month trial period which had already been agreed in a bid to defuse the row.

And there will be a review of the situation after a year, including a study on how the taxi rank switch is working out.

Cabinet chairman Coun June Imeson was not happy about the taxi move.

"The rank might be better somewhere else and I want to see a review before we talk about making this permanent," she said.

Coun Arthur Barker was anxious to make it clear that a six-month review of Thirsk farmers' market on safety issues - agreed as part of the Northallerton measures some weeks ago - would not be affected by this latest move. "That must still go ahead," he said.

And Coun David Webster wished the review group had flagged up the benefits of produce available on farmers' markets.

"Farmers are not a charity case," he said. "It would have been nice to see some mention of the fact that the markets provide farm-fresh food for people.

"This is not a one-sided issue, it helps both producer and consumer."

The review team based its recommendations on consultation and feedback from the farmers themselves.

Only recently, Alistair Davey, chief executive of Northern Dales Farmers' Markets warned the Northallerton event was in danger unless there was a site switch.

Cabinet members heard that taxi drivers had already expressed a wish to move to a new rank in front of Grovers.

The review group was set up after rebel councillors "called-in" a cabinet decision to leave the market on the Applegarth on Fridays for six months while other options were explored.

The issue was put back before a scrutiny committee and this led to the review.

The group decided council policy had not led to a vibrant and successful farmers' market in Northallerton. Its position on the Applegarth on a different day to the traditional markets was seen as a major drawback.

Campaigners also criticised a lack of advertising for the events.

Northallerton Mayor, Coun Jack Dobson, who has campaigned vigorously for the market to be sited elsewhere, was delighted with the decision.

"This proves the value of the call-in system, as before this the farmers would have been stuck in the Applegarth for six months," he said.