I WOULD like to see a supermarket built on Wentworth Street car park.

My original view was the exact opposite, but I have now changed my mind.

Following the recent purge of letters on these pages and yet another protest, I object strongly that, in effect, I am being told that my choice is to shop only at independent shops, the majority of which I never use anyway.

I live in Peasey Hill. From a purely practical point of view, with the current farcical traffic management system in Malton, could anyone tell me a better location to shop?

A train comes and instant gridlock.

Traffic backs up Castlegate, then backs up at the traffic lights in all directions. No one goes anywhere. In the Market Place when all the spaces are full, how many times can drivers be seen driving around in circles? A quick trip down Pasture Lane, not a problem.

It is a consumer-led market (which no one ever seems to mention).

If the independents offer goodquality products at a good price then what is the problem? I shop at Paleys, Leefes, Yates and Castle News and will continue to do so (I also shop at Morrisons).

I cannot see into the future, but then neither can anyone else, so my “guess” is that these will be “safe”.

I would really like to see the “Save Our Shops” hit-list with those independent shops that feel at risk, but equally together with those that don’t.

Over the past few years, so many shops have closed anyway, so why is that? Especially when not a single brick has yet been laid in Wentworth Street car park.

We are repeatedly told that “an edge-of-town” superstore on Wentworth Street car park will damage small businesses, but I still can’t get my head around that one.

Pick it up and put it in the cattle market and it won’t? Late-night shopping, Sunday shopping, home delivery, the internet, I suppose these things don’t matter?

You could, of course, increase footfall by building more houses, but then some people don’t want that either.

From your letters page I note that some people still don’t seem to understand the democratic process.

Yet again it seems that it is a very good system when you get the result that you want, but it is an abysmalsystem when you don’t.

It was a democratic decision to sell the car park, and, if I recall, only supermarket developers were interested in the land. Councillors make the decisions, residents vote for the councillors - it is that simple.

There is vigorous opposition by some people to build this supermarket, which is very commendable, but do not be fooled into thinking these people speak for everybody.

To the councillors who will vote on such matters, never be intimidated by the one who shouts the loudest.

Finally, I suspect that customer migration will only be from one supermarket to another.

To the people who do not want a supermarket on Wentworth Street car park, that is fine, no one is forcing you to shop there, please feel free to continue to support your local shops and whichever other supermarket you choose, even if it is at Monks Cross.

But, there again, I can’t tell you where you can do your shopping, so please don’t tell me where I can do mine.

Stephen Preston, Malton

 

• REGARDING the “new” jobs claim from GMI Holbeck: how to turn simplified statistics into dubious promises.

GMI Holbeck is suggesting in press advertisements that the plan to build a superstore on Wentworth Street car park is really an exercise in job creation. They claim 200 new jobs will be created. Not according to the National Retail Planning Forum – an organisation financed by superstores, including Tesco.

Their research on the impact of superstores on employment found that:

• New, out-of-centre superstores have a negative net impact on retail employment up to 12 miles away;

• The 93 stores studied by the forum were, between them, responsible for the loss of 25,685 employees;

• Every time a superstore of this kind opens, 276 people lose their jobs.

So how exactly does GMI justify the employment claim? The answer has to be that the jobs in a superstore might be new, but they certainly would not be additional jobs in the local economy, so they would come directly at the expense of the 1,000- plus jobs currently created by localbusinesses in Malton’s town centre.

In truth, as the town council, Chamber of Trade, Totally Locally and others are trying to turn the job creation tap on, GMI Holbeck and their partners at Ryedale District Council are planning to let local jobs run right down the plug hole.

Andrew Riley, Malton

 

• WHEN will councillors remember they were voted in to carry out the wishes of the electorate, not serve their own agenda?

The supermarket in Wentworth Street car park, Malton, is not wanted by Malton people, despite the propaganda put out by GMI Holbeck.

I work in Malton and have not heard a single person say they want it or that it was a good idea. The mere fact that Holbeck has seen a need to put out this propaganda speaks for itself.

Remember Holbecks’ prime reason for this development is not to look after Malton, but to make money for itself.

I would accept that the alternative proposal for the cattle market would be good for Malton, and it would help keep the centre alive.

Booths/Waitrose are “upmarket”, offering different lines that the real big boys will not stock because they do not meet their rate of sale.

Get out and about, councillors and look in these stores to see where they are sited, in the likes of Ilkley, Otley, Settle, Kirby Lonsdale, Windermere etc.

It is time to move Malton forward with something different.

Dave Birkbeck, Slingsby

 

• I AM amazed to see that the local authority is still trying to proceed with the Wentworth Street car park development.

It is supposed to represent public opinion, not defy it.

Shoppers coming into Malton will be ringed by supermarkets, blocking almost all entries into the town and shoppers will be “spent up” before they enter the town proper.

The Fitzwilliam Estate, and I have no connection with the estate, are far more wise.

The estate’s proposed development is adjacent to and will enhance the businesses within the Market Place itself, bringing more shoppers into the centre of town and more business and variety of shops.

Both shops and shoppers will benefit.

The estate’s choice of Booths, which I have known for many years as a customer, is an excellent one.

JR Holt, Malton