COUNCILLORS have vowed to explore every avenue to keep a livestock market operating in Ryedale.

At a meeting last week, members of Ryedale District Council spoke of need to save the traditional mart as Malton continues on a spiral of economic decline.

Leader of the council, Keith Knaggs, gave an impassioned speech to the chamber urging fellow councillors to act before it is too late. He warned: “Malton is a town in a degree of trouble. Retail is seriously declining, shops are closing and every year £18 million of potential income is being spent outside Ryedale.

“Yet at the same time we have an enormous opportunity for regeneration and renewal.”

He added: “Many people think we (Ryedale District Council) are going to fluff it and we have to show we are more than just a debating society.”

The speech came following three months of consultation by the Malton Town Strategy Steering Group, a body made up of councillors, auctioneers and other leading lights in the local community.

In his report to the council, the Conservative group leader said they investigated three major issues affecting the town – the future of the livestock market, the impact of any new supermarkets built in the and traffic problems.

This came in the wake of plans by the local estate company to develop the cattle market site and recommendations by city-based consultants to build a supermarket on Wentworth Street car park.

Speaking at the meeting of the policy and resources committee, Coun Edward Legard said: “Malton will never be a coffeecake town like Helmsley. The town serves the residents of the area and it has always been this way. We need to act in the best interests of Ryedale and its younger generation.”

Now the council will embark on further public consultation and another in a long line of traffic surveys over the next couple of months.

A planning application submitted by the Fitzwilliam Estate to develop the cattle market site into an “upmarket” supermarket and housing has yet to come before the council.

Ryedale’s Liberal Democrat leader Howard Keal urged the council to focus on the positive aspects of the town.

He said: “There is a continual willingness to undersell what we have to offer in Malton. We have a real opportunity to bring the town to life and Malton is Cinderella who wants to come to the ball.”

Controversially, the report also recommends that the council considers the redevelopment of Wentworth Street car park.

Speaking at the meeting, Coun Paul Andrews, who sat on the steering group, said other options need to be explored.

He said: “Everybody accepts that Malton needs to change but there are difficulties with the consultation document. No discussion should be made on Wentworth Street car park until the future of the cattle market site has been decided.”