AN ambitious plan to build a £25 million holiday village, shops and park and ride on the outskirts of Pickering has been unanimously welcomed by councillors.

The project, by Ryedale Showground Ltd, is planned for Pickering Showfield which the company’s head, Jason Bruton, took over last year. Work could start in the next few weeks.

Coun Tommy Woodward (Lib) described it as “a fantastic scheme” at last week’s planning committee meeting, but he urged that highway improvements would be needed on the A169, together with an extensive planting scheme. He also called for football pitches to be provided for junior teams as part of the onsite development which aims to provide sporting events and outward bound activities.

Coun Luke Richardson (Lib) welcomed the provision of a cycle track which, he said, could link, with the popular Dalby Forest tracks and the newly-created one at Newbridge, Pickering.

Coun John Raper (Cons), the committee chairman, said meetings were to be held with the developers, North Yorkshire County Council highway chiefs and planning officers.

Coun Caroline Goodrick (Cons) told the committee: “The development will bring lots of opportunities to Pickering.”

Doug Jennings, a chartered town planner, said: “This application is a major opportunity for Pickering.”

He added that £250,000 had already been invested in upgrading the exhibition hall on the site and it was now planned to clad it in timber to enhance its appearance.

Businesses in the Pickering area stand to benefit to the tune of £8 million a year through the new leisure facility because of the additional visitors it will attract to the market town.

Rachel Smith, the council’s planning officer, said a number of highway and archaeological issues still had to be resolved and steps would be needed to ensure the former Pickering to Malton rail line was safeguarded should it be needed in the future for road, rail or cycleway facilities.

She added that some 27,000 new shrubs and trees are to be planted on the site.