LOCAL authorities do the bidding of Central Government, which is now demanding even more new housing.

How many people were aware until very recently of the 1,200-plus new houses talked about for Malton? It is only when they start being built that people take notice – few have time to read stories about Local Plans in the local newspaper, let alone study the implications from the original documents. Already there are stories in the national press about Local Plans being torn up by councils faced with having to re-think their housing strategies.

Why is Fitzwilliam (Malton) Estate so frightened by competition? If it fills a niche market with its fine food hall why does it fear a supermarket to suit the masses?

How many people have asked their county councillor, Lyndsay Burr, what is being done about school places for these extra children? Or about how doctors’ surgeries will cope? Are these not more important topics than supporting the Fitzwilliam (Malton) Estate achieve greater profits at the expense of others?

How many of those opposing the planned supermarket realise it will not be on the “edge-of-town”, but instead surrounded by housing? How many signed a petition as anti-Tesco rather than anti-supermarket? How many would be happy seeing Asda or Sainsbury’s expand onto a new site? How many do their supermarket shopping in Malton/Norton? More importantly, how many do not even live in Ryedale and what right do they have to comment?

How many realise the planned supermarket will provide 90 extra parking spaces once the site is reconfigured? Do they realise that after three hours of free parking, they can stay in the same parking space for longer, paying only for the extra hours? Very different to Morrison. No free parking for town-centre shoppers is offered by Sainsbury or probably the newly-expanded Heron.

How many already get frustrated with the traffic jams to and from Morrison? Even Morrison abandoning its existing site and moving to Wentworth Street would be an improvement.

How many of those opposing the Wentworth Street supermarket are connected with one or other of the Fitzwilliam families and their estates.

If Malton Town Council is so passionate about free car parking and retaining Wentworth Street as a car park, why does it not offer to take over maintenance and running of the site? Would Malton’s residents and traders vote for that? If not, why does Malton Town Council and its representatives give so much of their time as the voice of the Fitzwilliam (Malton) Estate? There is no proof they represent the majority of those living in Malton.

The current Government has already hinted that it may look at doing away with district councils. A second term may well see this become reality. I also believe Central Government is keen to see local authorities divest themselves of assets such as land.

A substantially under-used asset such as Wentworth Street car park is better liquidised now than risk losing this asset altogether in the event of the disappearance of district councils like Ryedale. Monies raised must not be used to cover cuts, but be re-invested in infrastructure.

The push to turn Malton into a “food capital” risks turning the market place into nothing but eating and drinking establishments. It could back-fire, with many locals priced-out and village pubs that rely on food could also suffer, which could mean people losing a vital community centre as well as their “local”.

While a Booths or Waitrose-type store will bring in some shoppers from outside Malton, traffic jams heading to and from Morrison are likely to have many others leaving. Having a petrol station attached to a supermarket would mean shoppers could make use of money-off-fuel discounts. Those given out by Morrison need a 40-mile round trip – not worth it in most cases, so shoppers yet again lose out because they stay in Malton.

The town’s independents will always attract customers if they provide a good service and concentrate on goods unlikely to be found in a supermarket. Sadly some get pushed out of town by rocketing rents – for example, why did we lose the on-site watchmaker/jewellery repairer who now runs a shop in Pickering? Will there be anyone at the planning meeting supporting this scheme? Doubtful.

The silent majority are either too busy getting on with their own lives, while others feel too intimidated by the anti-brigade. The unpleasant atmosphere created at the last meeting is anticipated for this one. There are many people who share these views.

Gill Woodhead, Broughton