TALKS are to be held in an attempt to clarify van parking arrangements for Guisborough market stall holders.

Traders have traditionally been allowed to park vehicles by their stalls before 10am and after 3pm, to allow for unloading and loading.

But confusion seems to have arisen since it was agreed they could park at a cobbled area at Westgate, while a programme of street work was carried out.

Guisborough Town Council clerk Pam Batts said the council had received complaints that some vehicles were being left illegally on yellow zigzag road markings and pedestrian crossings.

She said the traders preferred to park at Westgate because they felt their vehicles were vulnerable to thieves at a pay-and-display car park in Northgate.

But resident David Bishop, of West End, has written to the town council and Redcar and Cleveland Council, asking the chief executive to solve the problem.

He wrote: "I am increasingly concerned about the parking of stall holders' vehicles on the cobbles. It is now so congested that it is difficult to find a way through to cross Westgate, other than at the crossing.

"The vehicles are so close to the yellow lines that is difficult to see when it is safe to cross, even in the approaches to the crossing. And once the road has been crossed, it is often necessary to walk along the road to find a gap between vehicles. I am convinced we have all the ingredients for a serious accident."

Mr Bishop, a former chairman of the Clean Up Guisborough Group, claimed the "rot set in" after the old library was burned down and a temporary library was located on the stall holders' traditional car park.

"They were given temporary permission to park on Westgate," he stressed.

He questioned whether there was a risk of theft at other car parks, saying it had never been a problem in the past.

"Could it be that the stall holders just find it more convenient and cheaper (to park on the cobbles) and, if so, should we let them continue to seriously inconvenience us?"

He accepted some vehicles were actually stalls, such as a cheese van, but recommended rules should be drawn up for future arrangements.

After discussing the matter at its latest meeting, the town council decided to write to Gisborough Estate, which has the market rights, for talks.