REFERENDUMS are to be held into controversial plans to introduce parking charges across Hambleton for the first time.

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

And campaigners hope the results will add to the pressure on Hambleton District Council to drop the threat of charges completely.

The first of the parish polls will be held in Bedale on June 18, with voting taking place in the ballroom of Bedale Hall between 4pm and 9pm.

The second poll, in Northallerton, is expected to take place the following day in the Hambleton Forum between the same times.

Under the Local Government Act a referendum can be triggered 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 held last Friday in Bedale's Chantry Hall. Just over a dozen members of the public attended and all voted for a referendum.

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

The referendum papers will ask the simple question: "Should Hambleton District Council introduce car-parking charges?"

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

"We will be out there with banners and loudspeakers," she said.

"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 have to listen."

In Northallerton Coun John Coulson stressed: "It is vitally important that people turn out to vote. If they don't the opposition' will say people are not interested and vote for the charges.

"We don't want apathy. It is essential people vote."

Hambleton District Council approved the principle of charging for car-parking in December 2005 as part of their financial strategy and later next month will be voting to adopt a policy of charges and set their levels.

The authority wants to introduce the charges to plug an expected funding shortfall of £450,000 in the wake of its 2005 capping by the Government.

Deputy leader Coun Brian Phillips said: "We want to preserve the services we provide and we know we need another funding channel to sustain them because we can't raise council tax.

"The alternative is services will have to be cut."

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