The view of Mr Barraclough, of GMI Holbeck Land Ltd, on their proposed Wentworth Street development, makes interesting reading.

But then again, they are the ones who will benefit from it so you cannot blame them for being a little upbeat.

Mr Barraclough suggests Malton and Norton need another mediumsize supermarket because, with the redevelopment of Monks Cross in York, we will lose out.

He says: “The new John Lewis and M&S stores at nearby Monks Cross mean that Malton needs a stronger shopping offer to retain shoppers and attract more visitors”.

I really cannot see how this medium- size food supermarket can compete and provide all the goods and services on offer at Monks Cross and nearby Clifton Moor.

GMI Holbeck Land Ltd (not GMI Holbeck Community Support) also suggests that Malton and Norton need more choice and competition for food shopping.

Our small area is already served by a large Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, and Costcutter.

This list does not include all the other smaller national and locally run food retailers in the town. We are not York and never can or will be.

York is lucky that it is an internationally renowned tourist destination, for without that it would be like so many other town centres – dying.

It is surrounded by out-of-town retail parks drawing trade away from the traditional high street.

Malton needs to cash in on what makes its high street unique.

Another medium supermarket is not what is required, but maybe the proposed livestock market development, with its smaller diverse shops, is.

Another rather contentious “benefit”

to the proposed scheme is cheaper petrol.

Mr Barraclough knows this is an emotive issue. If this scheme is allowed to progress and a supermarket and petrol station are built, it would be similar to Thirsk, Market Weighton and Bridlington, all of which are dominated by supermarkets with a petrol station.

I checked today on the national PetrolPrice.com site to look at the difference in prices between Malton/Norton and those towns.

Malton/Norton offers the same price as both Thirsk and Bridlington and is cheaper than Market Weighton. Do not be fooled into thinking that once you get a national supermarket in town with a petrol station that the price will come down.

All the supermarkets do is drive local competition away. Put it this way. Next time the lovely staff (and they are) in Malton Morrisons offer you a 5p off per litre voucher, ask yourself this: aren’t they encouraging you to shop in another town that has a Morrisons with a petrol station?

It is hardly looking after the local interest in encouraging you to spend elsewhere.

Mr Barraclough says: “It would benefit Malton and Norton to attract shoppers from all over Ryedale (poor old Pickering, Kirbymoorside and Helmsley) and if the town could offer improved food shopping…”

Surely the variety that the independents offer is what makes Malton/Norton an attractive place to visit and shop.

But let us finish on a positive.

GMI Holbeck has promised to improve access into Pasture Lane and Smithson Court junction. That is good of them. It will make getting all those articulated lorries and tankers through the narrow roads and on to the site much easier.

Tony Boorman, Helperthorpe