Hundreds march on council HQ in bid to save cobbles

Organisers said about 600 people, many of them carrying placards and banners, took part in yesterday’s protest against council plans to remove the setts from Saturday Market as part of a wider £2.5m revamp of the area.

The march ended at County Hall, where a petition was posted at East Riding Council headquarters, and followed a similar demonstration last month attended by about 300 people.

Representatives of both sides are due to hold a meeting this morning in a bid to resolve the row.

Adrian Stokes, spokesman for campaign organisers Beverley Action, said he was delighted by the number of people on the march: “I would say it demonstrates pretty strongly the residents of the town; everyday people who want to demonstrate their concern and anger at the way this is being handled.”

He added: “We are hoping they are going to see sense. We’ve got no idea why they want to do it. It’s costing a lot of money to take away a really historical feature of the town.”

The council does not believe the setts provide a suitable surface for less able-bodied people and disabled groups were in favour of them being removed. As a compromise, 30 per cent of the setts are to be reused at the entrance of Old Waste, the ends of each row of car park spaces and an area off Ladygate.

Nigel Leighton, the council’s director of environment and neighbourhood services, said: “Saturday Market is one of the most heavily pedestrianised areas in the East Riding and the cobble setts can cause problems for less able-bodied people or those using wheelchairs and prams.

“In spite of differing views and priorities, the council is keen to continue to work together with all parties for the benefit of Beverley and East Riding residents.”