LEAFLETS protesting about plans to build up to 500 houses in Malton have been distributed to residents.

The West Malton Residents’ Group has sent out the leaflets ahead of a consultation meeting in the Milton Rooms on Saturday by the Fitzwilliam (Malton) Estate, between 10am and noon, about the plans for a development in the Castle Howard Road and Middlecave Road area.

Describing itself as a “group of concerned residents”, it said it wishes to see sustained growth that is in-keeping with the local character of the Ryedale area.

The leaflet highlights the amount of housing planned for Malton which, the group argues, will mean 25 per cent more traffic.

“Add the 32 per cent more houses already approved since 2012 in the town this means a whopping 57 per cent increase in the population of Malton as a whole,” the group said.

It asks why the Estate cannot wait until the Neighbourhood Plan is in place before submitting the plans.

It says the size of the proposed development, known as High Malton, is too large and has no precedent.

“Can we consider a much smaller development that would be more in keeping with the slower nature that Malton has historically been built?” it asks.

The group also queries the adequacy of traffic surveys carried out and the knock-on effect on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The group is urging residents to send comments to Ryedale District Council and the planning committee and to help in its own traffic survey.