TYPICAL of Councillor Paul Andrews to tackle the man instead of the ball in the debate over proposals to build a second decent-sized supermarket in Malton.

He wrongly accuses me of “hypocrisy” for supporting the introduction of three hours free parking, which would be provided by a new store in Wentworth Street.

A bid years ago to introduce lower parking charges would have landed the bill for the loss of income with ratepayers, robbing Peter to pay Paul. All that has changed. Instead, we now have the prospect of free parking and a £5m windfall for the community from the building of a new store. The money generated vastly outweighs any loss of income from parking charges, it should be grabbed with both hands. On the basis of a great deal on the table for ratepayers, I’m very happy to support free car parking, particularly when so many people are fighting to make ends meet.

Taking that view isn’t hypocrisy, it’s common sense.

On St Nicholas Street car park, yards from our home, I have always backed free access to parking for surrounding residents. Coun Andrews also cites a protest petition against the store signed by 2,000 people – even on his own figures that means 11,000 local people did not sign it. A report in the Gazette archive says: “A petition will be handed to council leaders urging them to keep all car parking spaces and slash charges to tempt more shoppers into the town.”

Both objectives of that petition, supported by Coun Andrews, have been met by the supermarket plan. It results in 90 more spaces, and free parking. Both of these, we were told, will attract more shoppers to the town. My case rests.

Howard Keal, Norton