A DECISION to extend the contract to develop Wentworth Street car park in Malton is expected to be made by members of Ryedale District Council (RDC) tomorrow night.

Councillors voted to support a recommendation to extend the contract to GMI Holbeck to build a supermarket on the site at the council’s policy and resources committee last month.

Councillors Lindsay Burr and Paul Andrews’ motion to stop the sale argued “clarification was needed for the business community in Malton and Ryedale”, but it was defeated by seven votes to three.

The decision will now go before a meeting of the full council.

Cllr Linda Cowling, leader of the council, said: “RDC still has a duty to dispose of an underused asset for the best consideration – that is what the full council meeting will be debating on Thursday – not the planning merits of the scheme.

“I think we need to separate the two functions of the council very clearly. I think that some members are finding it difficult to separate the issues when debating Wentworth Street car park. The disposal of an underused asset is a very different debate to that of planning permission.”

Cllr Cowling added: “Professional evidence suggests the current contract we have still represents best value for the site. Withdrawing could result in substantial financial loss to Ryedale District.

“Much has been made of the legal costs to date – but what about the financial loss and possible risk of litigation if we withdraw from our current contract?”

However, Cllr Andrews said: “There is no point in risking further court action from the Fitzwilliam Malton Estate by extending the contract even for six months.

“As regards legal action from the developers, the officers have agreed that the risk of such legal action is low. This is not surprising, bearing in mind that the planning appeal and legal challenge by the Estate were entirely foreseeable and any mistakes which may have been made by the council in processing the application were either induced or supported by the developers. Enough is enough, the reputation of the council as a planning authority has plunged to rock bottom. The public are sick of seeing their money being wasted on paying the Estate’s legal bills.

“The commitment and determination of the council’s administration ‘to work with the developers’ does not impress anybody. It is time to put an end to this farce.”