FRIENDS and relatives making hospital visits at Scarborough are to be charged for parking their cars. Scarborough Health Trust's board has agreed that patients and visitors will be charged £1 for up to four hours or £2 up to 12 hours.

Staff will have to pay £5 a month, said trust officer John Wain. He said the income was estimated at £234,000 a year, £10,000 of which will be paid to a security firm to collect the money. A further £60,000 is to be invested in providing additional car parking, he said. The trust is also spending £55,000 on CCTV cameras.

PLANS SHELVED: Plans to build seven town houses and two cottages on the site of a former garage in Ripon have been withdrawn by developers following objections from 14 residents and the Harrogate Civic Society. The plan for a site at Tower Garage, Palace Road, was recommended for refusal at a meeting of Ripon area councillors of Harrogate Borough Council. But the applicant withdrew the application before the meeting, although he is expected to submit revised plans soon.

BIRTHDAY BONANZA: Bedale Leisure Centre is celebrating its fifth birthday this month with a series of activities. From tomorrow, there will be various swimming pool games, a bouncy castle and extra fitness classes. For further information, contact the centre on (01677) 427272.

SCOTTISH EVENING: A Harrogate church hosts a performance with a Scottish theme by the Knaresborough Accordion and Fiddle Orchestra tomorrow, at 7.30pm. The evening is part of the West Park United Reformed Church's golden jubilee celebrations. Tickets cost £4 and include light refreshment.

CIVIC TOUR: Members of the Richmond Civic Society will find out more about one of the region's legendary clergymen this month. A visit to Bede's World, Jarrow, Tyneside, has been arranged, with the party leaving from the Richmondshire Cricket Club at 11am on Sunday, July 21. Anyone interested in joining the tour can call (01748) 824768.

CHURCH CASH: The annual fete held recently in the village of Kirby Misperton, near Malton, raised £1,320 for St Lawrence's and St Chad's churches.

WATER WORKS: A new water treatment works is on the way for residents of Scrayingham, near Malton, as part of Yorkshire Water's £400m River Care programme. Work will start later this year and is due to be completed by spring.