THE unique nature of North Yorkshire's market towns makes it impossible to adopt a county-wide policy on on-street parking, highways bosses have concluded.

And charges for on-street parking are not thought to be the way forward in most of North Yorkshire's towns.

Members of the on-street working party for North Yorkshire County Council have considered how the control of such parking should be dealt with in the wider context of an overall traffic strategy for the county's market towns.

Councillor Michael Heseltine, who chaired the meeting, said: "The market towns of North Yorkshire all have different characteristics and it is important that they are recognised when dealing with how parking is controlled.

"I feel very strongly that the introduction of on-street car parking charges would not be the right way ahead in most of North Yorkshire's towns."

The current approach in Whitby and Skipton, where traffic partnerships have been set up to discuss traffic strategies was lauded as the model for other areas.

Coun Heseltine said: "It is vitally important that a partnership is developed involving local interest groups to determine what local problems need to be solved and develop appropriate traffic management techniques."

A new area committee is being established by North Yorkshire County Council together with district councils to manage the process and will also be advised by forums from different areas.

Coun Heseltine said: "We are keen to ensure that all the problems are dealt with at a local level so that whatever schemes are introduced they have the full backing of local people."