MARKET towns in part of North Yorkshire could start charging for parking as a local authority tries to find ways to raise extra cash.

Hambleton District Council has revealed it needs to save £600,000 over the next six years to make ends meet.

However, in Northallerton, one councillor is concerned the introduction of parking charges could affect businesses in the town.

This year, Hambleton was one of eight authorities across the country to have its council tax capped because of an excessive increase.

It has been warned that if it keeps spending at the current rate it will be £21m in debt by 2014.

The council has proposed a number of ways it can cut costs and raise more money.

Car parking charges have been mooted on several occasions in the past, but have been successfully fought off by traders and shoppers.

Now the council has said it could bring them in during the 2011-12 financial year.

Council leader Councillor Arthur Barker said: "We can't go on without raising extra income. The only other option would be the closure of leisure centres."

But John Coulson, an Independent councillor in Northallerton, said: "Obviously, it could have a serious effect on the trading position of the town.

"While there are some businesses that could sustain car parking, there are many that will not be able to.

"Also, we rely on many of our workforce coming in to the town from surrounding villages and they would be heavily penalised."

Conservative Northallerton councillor Tony Hall said: "I was surprised that we were capped. I really felt it was a political and cynical move.

"The residents get a good deal from Hambleton council.

"The council's policy has always been not to charge for parking, and it's not being talked about for another five or six years, so until we run out of money or the council changes its policy, it's a non-scheme at the moment."

The council has also frozen plans for a bigger security camera scheme, a recycling and waste management scheme, reduced fares for young people, street wardens and street cleaning.

A full-time job at the World of James Herriot, in Thirsk, is being replaced with a part-time position, while Great Ayton's tourist information point is being moved to the Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum, and in Bedale the tourist point is moving to Bedale railway station to be operated by the Wensleydale Railway Association.