THE future of a highways depot branded a nuisance by residents is to be resolved with a move out of a town centre.

Council officers are putting the finishing touches to plans to relocate the busy Stokesley depot in North Road, which had long been considered out of keeping with the town's character.

North Yorkshire County Council is selling the 2.4 acres of land and moving its operation to a depot on the town's industrial park.

The authority is negotiating with Hambleton District Council to purchase a site of just over an acre on the industrial estate, and end years of complaints from residents about the depot.

People living close to the North Road site have complained about disruption caused by out-of-hours working, forced on the council by winter maintenance.

North Yorkshire's head of environmental management, Mike Masterman, said assuming the costings all worked out, the transfer would take place "shortly".