People 'sick' of hearing about twin towns (From Gazette & Herald)

People 'sick' of hearing about twin towns

PEOPLE in northern Ryedale are sick of hearing about Malton and Norton, says a Kirkbymoorside district councillor.

Coun Gary Hobbs (Lab) said he was angry to see Malton and Norton mentioned in a report to council, but no other Ryedale market town.

He was speaking at a meeting of Ryedale District Council's policy and resources committee, which was considering Ryedale's housing need.

Coun Hobbs said he took strong exception to the emphasis placed on housing need for Malton and Norton. He believed it was at the expense of the rest of Ryedale.

Ryedale District Council was increasingly referred to in his area as Malton and Norton Rural District Council, he said. "I feel quite angry and feel the report will be rubbished."

Julian Rudd, local plans officer for Ryedale District Council, was presenting a report to the committee.

Changes in Government planning policy meant Ryedale had to undertake a housing needs survey and incorporate findings into the plan.

The Ryedale Local Plan is the base for planning in Ryedale. Development and planning decisions in the district are based on the plan.

The main issue to emerge was the need for houses that people at the lower end of the market could afford.

In his report, Julian Rudd incorporated information on housing need in Malton and Norton. No mention was made of other Ryedale towns.

From Pickering, Coun Linda Cowling said there should be strategies for development for all the towns.

Coun Deborah Aubrook (Kirby Misperton) added: "Pickering Town Council is developing its own 20-year strategy. Malton and Norton - get your act together."

Coun Brian Maud, of Rillington, joined in. "I don't know what the matter is with Malton and Norton. Twenty years ago Pickering was buzzing and Malton was dead. Twenty years later at the jubilee weekend, there were three cars in Malton Market Place and they were queuing to get into Pickering."

Harold Mosley, Ryedale District Council chief executiv,e said it was not the intention to ignore other parts of the district.

Chairman of the meeting Coun Helen Schroeder took on board Coun Hobbs' view that Malton and Norton seemed to be favoured.

She said she would like built-in guarantees that Malton and Norton would be used as pilot studies which could then be applied to Ryedale's other towns.

Councillors were so annoyed that invitations to a briefing on regional government arrived after the event, that they wanted a special meeting to be arranged for them. After some debate, they decided to send a letter of protest, but attend a previously-arranged briefing in Northallerton.

Updated: 09:51 Thursday, June 20, 2002