SKIPTON market trader Ian Holgate – who disputed his Business Improvement District levy when he appeared before Skipton magistrates – says he has had it re-assessed.

Mr Holgate, who has a rainwear stall outside Yorkshire Bank in Skipton High Street, was recently in court along with three other businesses people who had failed to pay the levy towards the running costs of Skipton Town Partnership.

He disputed the £70 demand on his business, saying it had been miscalculated, and Craven District Council's Stephanie Harling told the bench it would be looked at again.

Mr Holgate,who has run his stall for 20 years, said: "I was not against paying the levy – I just disputed the amount.

"It has now been calculated at £52 and I'm prepared to pay it. The court costs were also wavered. I just want to put the record straight."

The three other traders said they had refused to pay the levy because they believed it did not give value for money.

The court heard there were 90 business people who had failed to pay the levy, and magistrates agreed to enforce the liability on all of them.