I HAD the pleasure of experiencing democracy in action at Ryedale District Council where the petition, led by Malton Against Superstore, Totally Locally and the Chamber of Trade and Commerce, was to be handed in.

We arrived at the appointed time to meet the officer with whom arrangements had been made to accept the petition of 3,804 signatures against the development of Wentworth Street car park as a supermarket and were instead met by someone who suggested that we wait until the petitions officer could be made available about half an hour later.

I knew that the council did not want to accept the petition, but when so many people – 3,804 – had taken the time and trouble to sign it I would have thought that a body so reliant on democracy for its existence would have given a little more weight to what was to be presented. In the event, the right person was summoned and the petition was accepted and confirmation has been received that it will be on the table at the planning committee meeting on Thursday.

This petition is not a load of “Moaning Minnies of Malton”, to quote one councillor, but people who want their town to be the best and different. I was disappointed that the council felt the small team that brought the petition and represented interested groups should be treated this way. I would urge everyone who has an interest in promoting this town to be at the planning meeting.

I truly hope the petition which has been democratically-produced, will have some sway on the committee and that it will be the will of the people affected rather than the sale of the crown jewel of the town of Malton that will be represented.

Jeremy Powell, Malton and Norton Chamber of Trade and Commerce and The Palace Cinema