A DATE has been set for a meeting to decide the fate of a town car park.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the Zetland Centre, in Richmond, on Thursday, February 23.

District councillors have called the meeting to discuss a planning application for the town's Yorke Square car park.

The land is owned by the district council.

The authority wants planning permission for 14 homes so the land can be sold to fund its proposed new offices in Colburn.

Security is expected to be high at the event.

Previous meetings to discuss the controversial office move were abandoned amid angry scenes.

The pay-and-display car park currently has 30 spaces. If the housing development goes ahead, 23 public spaces would remain.

Critics of the plans have voiced concerns over the loss of the spaces and the impact of the development on the area.

But council leader, Councillor Bill Glover, said: "It is actually a grossly under-used car park.

"Parking revenue figures show that an average of just six parking tickets are sold per day there, so the retention of 23 spaces more than satisfies the need for public parking in that area.

"I sometimes wonder if the original building was still there and the council was proposing to demolish it for use as a car park, what the public reaction would be."

Councillor Pat Middlemiss, chairwoman of the environment and planning committee, said: "This public planning meeting is to discuss the development of Yorke Square only, and no other issues.

"I hope residents understand this, should they choose to attend."

The meeting was due to be held on February 22, but a suitable venue could not be found.

The meeting will start at 6.30pm.