Towns to unlock £4m bonanza (From Gazette & Herald)

Towns to unlock £4m bonanza

FORECASTS that Malton and Norton will benefit to the tune of more than £4m as a result of pioneering the first Market Towns Initiative in the country, have been made by Peter Mudge, the town centre marketing manager.

This week, the Government's Countryside Agency, which launched the initiative, said that each of the 12 towns across Yorkshire and the Humber which are involved in the scheme were likely to see investment of "well over £1m" as a result of the three-year scheme.

But Mr Mudge said he was confident that the figure would be well exceeded as a result of major events and investment on the drawing board.

There are signs that some of the empty shops in the two towns are in line for a new look.

Five shops are being created out of the former Co-operative store in Norton, while two shops in Wheelgate, Malton, near the Curry's store, are being converted into one store.

However, work has been hampered by the discovery of a possible Saxon settlement on the site.

"One of the problems we have is that High Street names want fairly large premises which are at a premium in Malton and Norton," said Mr Mudge.

Meanwhile, talks are underway on the future of the former Co-operative supermarket in Wheelgate.

"We are keen to see the best possible use made of the building because it is probably the prime site in any small town over a wide area of the county," he said.

Only yesterday, Mr Mudge had two people in his office in Castlegate, Malton, seeking premises.

Completion of work is expected to start in the next three months on the conversion of York House, Yorkersgate, into offices.

Mr Mudge said he was confident that a deal on The Lanes in Malton would soon be completed which would see new shops opening, while a new business is expected to be opened soon at 14 Railway Street, a former high-tech business.

"We are making progress and I am sure that all the investment already planned will result in our towns quadrupling the projected £1m investment figure," said Mr Mudge.

Updated: 14:38 Wednesday, March 26, 2003