‘Our communities now need deeds, not words’ (From Gazette & Herald)

‘Our communities now need deeds, not words’

11:04am Thursday 8th May 2008

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Following a number of recent articles and letters in the Gazette & Herald, I thought it was about time that a further local councillor of some 27 years experience with the county council and having served 29 years on both Malton and Norton Town Councils, put forward a view'. During my pre-council period I also served as the president of the local Chamber of Trade.

I would like to set down a number of comments and thoughts about the various areas of developments being looked at by both Ryedale District Council and their consultants, and the Fitzwilliam Estate.

First, on a general point, what has happened for the whole community is that a number of long-term Fitzwilliam Estate leases are ending and as Roddy Bushell quite rightly states the Estate is a business and his job is to maximise income. However, at the same time, being in a very rare position with the Estate owning 75 per cent of the town, he is rightly wishing to ensure that growth is measured and appropriate for the nature of the community.

In a similar manner Ryedale District Council supposedly has the best interests of the community at heart, but has also to balance proposals with the other needs of Ryedale as a whole and, at the same time, address the Government edicts and advice as regards future developments.

It has taken more than a quarter of a century to get away from the East Riding/North Riding aspect of Norton and Malton and that with Malton and Norton being brewers and racing communities, battles and competition were common place - maybe a bit like the current Friday and Saturday nights we have now but for different reasons! I want to come to specific comments and ideas.

Livestock market

I fully support the Estate application for re-developing this somewhat derelict area - I am of the opinion that in 2008 there should be separation between the retailing area of a community and the agricultural usage which, despite being part of the basic history of the community, has changed in so many ways and been modernised in its development. I fully support a move to the Showfield Lane site and would accept that additional housing at the edges and some further light industrial development would inevitably be part of it. I could also envisage, indeed demand, that slip road access to the bypass as part of the developer-deal would really help the traffic movement, not only for the new livestock market but for the town generally. What I cannot agree with is that in order for it to happen we must have a retailing superstore as part of the deal. That would be as bad as locating one on Wentworth Street car park - both having a longer term detrimental effect upon other businesses and the development of the town.

The Estate proposals include a medium size supermarket with discreet parking and it is my understanding that if given permission, then the future of the Jackson's building might become an issue and either a Waitrose or a bigger Sainsbury's could end up in the re-developed area. This would, I believe, provide the essential centralised combining link to the existing Market Place and give the existing shops, and all the new proposed units, the impetus they need for developing.

Market Place

This leads me to make reference to the part pedestrianisation of the top side of the Market Place, suggested by the council's consultants. Whilst I appreciate that cars parked outside the church and at times dominating the area are cosmetically intrusive, it has to be recognised that the car forms a vital part of the rural market town' community we live in. I also believe that the chaos which will be caused by closing a section of the Market Place will literally drive' the visitor and local alike in the direction of York and Scarborough. As has been stated by more than one speaker at recent meetings, delivery and access would be a major problem and I welcome suggestions that one or two areas of pavement might be developed, with some plantings to soften the effect of the car and provide areas for seating and outside wine bar' type catering.

Wentworth Street car park

I have no problem with the further additional housing which has already been the subject of an application but would stress that as the current development being constructed becomes occupied and further housing is allowed, the need for car parking of a residential nature, will become more critical. In addition, if the Showfield Lane site has to have more industrial units to help its development, then Wentworth Street car park will be needed to accommodate some of the livestock market traffic, as it does now, as well as additional traffic coming to any household and antique auctions included in theplans.

These comments lead me to be against the supermarket suggestion both for the Showfield Lane site and for the Wentworth Street car park. The size being suggested must mean the sale of many products beyond food, which is a threat to existing retailers.

Tennis courts

I have no problem with the proposals, if they materialise, for the tennis court area to be used for housing subject to a successful relocation to the Rugby Club or other suitable and acceptable area. It would assist in helping to reach the Government guidelines and avoid use of any greenfield sites.

York House

I applaud the work being done to restore this building and would hope that with the garden at the rear it might become a potential asse for a visitor type use or perhaps a headquarters for a national body dealing with heritage or architecture.

Mount Hotel

In a similar vein, this really is an Estate issue and I would welcome any development which would bring the building back in to use making sure that as one of the first buildings seen as visitors enter the town it stands out as a sympathetic, distinguished and tasteful building. Equally the adjacent little- used site, currently under the lease for the cattle market, needs to be developed.

Roman Fort site

There are currently moves exploring the re-opening of the excavations linking with the relocation of the museum behind the Estate office and the opening of the town garden at the rear of the Old Lodge. If these proposals come to fruition thrn a major visitor attraction would become a reality with the Estate being able to give other thoughts to the use of the town hall building.

Woolgrowers site, Norton

It is ideal for a number of commercial and housing developments but the access is so poor that the link across the river and railway are a must for such a development to be viable, unless a major demolition of the Robson site can be arranged.

Norton Grove industrial estate

More units are to be created on this site and with a protected corridor for a road link from Scarborough Road through to the Beverley Road this is an area still able to take new usage before looking at any greenfield sites.

York Road industrial estate

This appears to be moving forward again and the Propac expansion moving the Travellers Garth to the other side of the road was inspired. It has opened up the site and subject to a corridor being protected for the Woolgrowers site and that no retailing is allowed (the current Henry Boot proposal needs amendment), I can see no problem with further expansion. There must also be some planning gain to provide the much needed bypass access here.

Gooder's Farm - Brambling Fields /Scagglethorpe

For future use, the derelict former turkey farm complex together with one adjacent field could be a better way forward than the aborted scheme at Eden Camp. Such a development might also include much- needed improvements to the bypass.

Manor Farm Estate - Old Malton

This project needs better advertising and should be better utilised before any greenfield site is even thought about. It could link with any housing development which might emanate from the county highways vacation of their site in Wentworth Street.

Other sites exist in the community but I think my comments and thoughts, which I stress are based upon speaking with many people over a number of years - and are not political in any way - set out my own personal forward plan' for our joint communities.

Any development should be proportionate to the demands of the rural nature of the community and not driven by outside pressures and influences which fail to take into account the very special and unique nature of a community much of which is in single ownership. Comparisons with other small towns is not easy and finding a similar match to properly compare like with like needs careful and unbiased selection.

I have completed my comments without mentioning car park charges. But I have visited many small towns up and down this country and find that Ryedale does have very high charges compared with many others. Whilst accepting the need for revenue, it has to be accepted that we need to retain and attract people across the whole of Ryedale and not literally drive them to cheaper locations.

We also need to remember that both the major shopping outlets in the greater York area - Monks Cross and Clifton Moor - were both part of Ryedale District Council development plans during the past 25 years and that some of the arguments about footfall and shopping habits are directly as a result and success of these developments.

I believe that with getting on' with the developments rather than spending endless months of further consultancy, reports and committee deliberations; our community of Malton and Norton can become the envy of the whole country. We should not let it falter due to petty squabbles and tactical delays. My old school had a wonderful motto - Res non verba - Deeds not words!

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