THERE are fears a major redevelopment scheme at the heart of a town could mean the return of “horrendous” parking problems for residents.

Northallerton Town Councillors are calling for answers from Julia Mulligan, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire as concern grows over parking for the new police headquarters, the existing fire station and the planned Treadmills Development.

The fears centre on the Crosby Road car park where Mrs Mulligan leased 130 of the 220 car parking spaces for use by staff at the new police headquarters where parking was so tight employees started leaving their vehicles in surrounding streets sparking huge protests from local residents.

Now Hambleton District Council, which owns the car park and is part of the development company working on the transformation of the prison site into the Treadmills centre, is planning to transfer the car park lease to Treadmills.

As part of a consultation over the planned changes to the car parking orders the authority asked Northallerton Town Council for comments.

Councillor Jack Dobson told members: "We all know the problems we had and the trouble that Mill Hill school had, it was horrendous, on a scale of one to ten it was ten.

"Since 130 spaces were leased by the police commissioner it has gone down to about four. But the total car park is being leased to the development company so when the Treadmill Development is completed they would require the spaces back.

"The present situation could well continue through the first two phases, but with the development of phase three the cinema and restaurants they will want the car park spaces.

"The police commissioner needs to be talking to the development company, otherwise Mill Hill Primary School and the residents will be back in that situation which is completely untenable.

"We need answers – the Police and Crime Commissioner has time but she can’t waste it.”

Cllr Ken Archer said Crosby Road car park would no longer exist and the fire service was supposed to be moving into the police headquarters which would increase the problems.

Hambleton District Councillor David Blades said: "We are concentrating on the residents and how this can be sorted."

Julia Mulligan's office said she would outline future plans soon.