PLANS to revamp Easingwold town centre have been pared down because of a cash crisis.

Originally, residents were told the scheme to enhance the town's main street, Long Street, would cost £300,000.

But that figure is now closer to £200,000 after residents agreed to a watering down of the scheme for fear the county council would be unable to afford to contribute towards it.

Under the plan, the stretch of Long Street from Church Street to Rosemary Court will be narrowed and lined with trees with angled parking bays.

Ornate signs, pointing visitors to the shops and car parking in Market Place, will also be installed.

Before the Easingwold bypass, Long Street was part of the A19 York to Thirsk road.

However, plans to replace the tarmac pavements with more flagstones have been shelved because residents believed it was unlikely the county council, faced with cutting £2.3m from its highways budget alone next year, would be unable to afford to pay for that part of the scheme.

Geoff Ellis, Mayor of Easingwold and also a town and district councillor, said people were still enthusiastic about the scheme, which is now to be ratified by the district council and county council.

Mr Ellis said: "Some people will be pleased there is not going to be the removal of the tarmac from the footpath as it is the most level and smooth surface for elderly people and mothers with children in pushchairs."

He added: "If the final draft of the scheme becomes a reality, it will certainly be an improvement for Long Street."

He added that the county council would not make a final decision on whether it would contribute to the scheme until it was presented with a final draft of the plan.

However in light of the budget crisis faced by the county, it was agreed to remove the footpath upgrade from the plan.

The town council will discuss the final plan at its next meeting.

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