SOME comments on the proposed amalgamation of the two towns - Malton and Norton-on-Derwent.

I am against this proposed amalgamation, which, if past experience is anything to go by will be imposed upon us without much ado (remember the abortive attempt to get a perfectly legitimate referendum on the town manager appointment, which was refused without any discussion whatsoever).

In my view this amalgamation will be a retrograde step, a dumbing down of the local democratic process and a corrupt imposition, without legitimacy, if the electorate of the two towns are not consulted. I seen no grass roots demand for this development, which is tinkering for the sake of tinkering. One could almost argue that it is an attack upon our heritage.

If this imposition is foisted upon us, which it will be if we the electorate are not consulted, Norton-on-Derwent will be the obvious loser. They still have some local autonomy - no higher authority filches their car parking income because they refused to levy this tax. They still have their council chamber, unlike Malton whose town hall has been taken over as a museum for some years now; they also do not have to camp out at Ryedale House or suffer the indignity of electing the town mayor in the staff canteen.

This proposed amalgamation will damage Norton-on-Derwent who have their civic pride to lose and with it what independence they at present enjoy, whereas Malton who have nothing anyway will hardly notice the difference. We in Malton are governed by both the Estate and Ryedale District Council. We have no powers, other than the possibly new one of establishing squatters rights in the Norton Council Chamber - that'll be bound to cheer them up!

The whole idea of amalgamation is a typical in-comer ploy. Where is the benefit to either community who have for generations enjoyed mutual good relations and respect? Let us ignore the weasel "Two Townships, one community" and let us do away with the 'Town Marque' this heathen flag which diminishes our once beautiful town hall, easily the finest building in our town. I, a Malton town councillor, can see no advantage to either community of this change. I cannot, for the life of me, see what benefit will accrue to those who push for this change, unless of course Ryedale House is after an addition, from Norton, of the car parking revenue.

I have just about said enough, there is one good point I would like to make however. Suppose the Ryedale District Council do impose this spurious unity upon us and in the fullness of time the District Council itself is consigned to limbo (Oh, happy thought!) and York meets Scarborough down at the river what an administrative skein to unravel that will prove to be.

Updated: 12:29 Thursday, December 06, 2001