COUNCILLORS have been recommended to reject an application for a new petrol station in Norton - and told it could be built on the livestock market instead.

A planning application by BP in December included plans for a filling station, with associated M&S and Wild Bean coffee shop, on the 0.56 hectare site between Welham Road and Springfield Garth - which has been unused for nearly 20 years.

At the time, the application letter said: “The new proposed petrol filling station will not only enhance petrol station provision within the local area to meet the modern needs and expectations of motorists, but shall also contribute to the local economy and employment.”

However, it drew protests from some local residents, who said it was the “wrong application in the wrong place”.

Now Ryedale District Council planners have recommended refusal of the application.

Their key reasons for this recommendation are related to so-called “sequential tests” - safeguards in planning law that require applicants to first rule out other available sites when applying for planning permission.

This test is applied for reasons of minimising flood risk but also to keep certain retail premises within town centre limits.

Planning officers ruled out sites such as Wentworth Street car park and the Norton ATS site, but said that “it has not been demonstrated through the submission of sufficient evidence” that the Malton livestock market site “is not a suitable and appropriate site to accommodate the proposed development”.

The officers’ report suggests the livestock market site is “sequentially preferable” both in terms of its town centre location and its lower flood risk.

The application will be considered by Ryedale District Council planning committee today (Wednesday).