The Knaresborough land train route could be amended to avoid Waterside, a business meeting heard last night.

North Yorkshire Council last year awarded £15,000 to trial a land train to help people get around the steep-sided town. But a proposed week-long trial in October was postponed.

The reason was not specified but many residents on Waterside feel the historic street, which is a popular but narrow tourist route along the River Nidd, is ill-suited to the venture. Several residents outlined their concerns in this article.

Matt Hare, chairman of Waterside Residents’ Association, warned last night’s meeting of Knaresborough & District Chamber some residents “might go rogue” by parking legally but unhelpfully to block the land train if it were directed along Waterside.

Mr Hare added Waterside was on the National Cycle Network and there were “pinch points” along the route, such as at Manor House, that were of particular concern. He said the lack of consultation with residents had “got their backs up”.

Alternative routes, incorporating roads such as Briggate, Castle Ings Road and Brewerton Street, were mooted as alternatives for transporting people up and down from the river to the town centre.

The chamber is a keen supporter of the scheme, which it regards as an important way of improving access around Knaresborough.

Chamber director Peter Lacey told the meeting if the trial were successful the train could run frequently during summer and on special event days in Knaresborough. He added “at least one local person” was prepared to invest in it.

Mr Lacey said Waterside was currently the preferred route but agreed there had been no formal consultation with residents and last night’s debate formed the basis of a “constructive compromise” that he would feed back to the consultant working on the scheme.

A further update is expected at the next chamber meeting in March.