I WRITE in response to two recent letters published in your pages (“Decisionmakers should be made to pay the costs” and “Food for thought” – April 10).

Councillor Paul Andrews makes several points which need to be addressed. Should our proposed development go ahead, there will be long-stay parking at Wentworth Street. With the first three hours free, those wishing to stay longer can do so and simply pay the extra parking fee, which will be in line with the council’s charging policy.

I’ve spoken to very many people over the past few years who are keen to see our proposed new family supermarket and petrol station go ahead. They want to see choice and competition in Malton and no longer wish to travel to York or Scarborough to do their full weekly shopping or fill up with fuel.

Coun Andrews lists a number of existing stores as evidence of adequate “supermarket” provision in Malton. However, Coun Andrews is confusing the branding on the front of the shop with the range of goods sold. Those stores listed by Coun Andrews may be large multiple brands, but they are convenience stores, designed mainly as a “top-up” or basket shop. They do not provide the range most families need for their weekly shop.

Fiona Croft, in her letter “Food for Thought”, quotes the local plan and also raises an interesting point about “brand” and range. We believe our store would be a “higher-order” supermarket as intended in the local plan because it will provide the depth of range and offer that Ryedale shoppers are currently seeking outside the area.

And it is because so many shoppers are spending so much money outside Ryedale that we are confident Malton can accommodate our food store plus the potential development at the livestock market. In fact, should the livestock market proposals become reality, we believe that the two stores, with different target markets would complement each other and benefit the whole area by bringing more people into the town. Currently, about £31m of Ryedale spending is going elsewhere.

On that point, and contrary to your correspondent’s suggestion, we remain very confident that there is significant operator interest for our food store, should we receive planning approval. Wentworth Street is the most appropriate site within Malton and Norton for a larger food store and petrol station.

Ian Barraclough, GMI Holbeck Land Ltd, Leeds