THE long-running wrangle over the scheme to build 260 new homes in Kirkbymoorside, has taken a dramatic new turn.

Ryedale District Council has decided to hold a special meeting to discuss the controversial plan.

Chief executive Janet Waggott announced this week that an extraordinary meeting of the council will be held at Lady Lumley’s School hall in Pickering on Monday at 6.30pm.

She said that five members had made the request for the meeting to debate the plan by builders Gladman to build the homes – 210 houses and 50 extra-care apartments – at Westfields, near the town’s primary school.

Ms Waggott said the council would discuss two parts of a motion which had been submitted, firstly to instruct her to proceed with the revocation of the decision and secondly, not to contest the judicial review that is expected following the granting of the permission at the planning meeting on August 28.

At the meeting, several members of the planning committee abstained and Coun David Cussons, who had initially moved that it should be refused, inadvertently press the “approval” button on the electronic voting system.

Gladman has launched an appeal against the refusal decision and leading local figures including, it is believed, a landowner, have taken steps to have the approval decision go for a judicial review.

The mayor of Kirkbymoorside, Coun Chris Dowie, one of the leading campaigners against the scheme, told the Gazette & Herald this week that she welcomed the move to have the issue re-debated.

She said: “I am pleased it is being reconsidered because there were grave concerns about the way the planning meeting was conducted and the decision reached.”

She added that her concerns had been confirmed when she heard the recording of the meeting and she had asked Ms Waggott to take steps to have the approval decision revoked.

“That will enable all the procedures in connection with the application to be reviewed, and made right. I believe mistakes were made at the planning committee meeting,” said Coun Dowie.

“This is a huge issue for Kirkbymoorside because of the impact on the town.”