Council moves to amend towns' plan

The authority was criticised last week by key figures in helping to develop the plan that halting it at key point was ‘irresponsible’.

A draft of the Neighbourhood Plan was issued to Ryedale District Council in January, however Mayor of Malton Cllr Ian Conlan said the ‘new’ town council elected in May had a number of serious concerns about the draft plan and it resolved at its June meeting to put forward a number of changes.

Cllr Conlan said: “Our decision to seek amendments to the Neighbourhood Plan has been taken following very careful consideration and I fully appreciate this is not universally popular. This will be an important policy document for the town’s future and it is important that we get it right. For the most part the plan is a strong positive document, but it contains some serious flaws which we need to address.

“If we did not make these changes it potentially opens the floodgates to large areas of unsustainable development in Malton. This will involve some delays and additional resource, but we will aim to keep these to an absolute minimum..

“The changes the council is seeking to make relate to unsubstantiated proposals for major infrastructure works; protection against large scale development on land to the west of Malton; the removal of a public right of way across the grounds of Malton School; protection of Castle Gardens against the removal of trees; additional cycle storage facilities; and strengthening policies relating to air quality.

"The draft plan contained a proposal to build an access road, referred to as the ‘A64/B1248 Braygate Street Junction’, which could serve no other purpose except to service a substantial development on land to the west of Malton, known as High Malton. This is a site where there had previously been huge local opposition to a planning application to build 500 new homes, subsequently refused by Ryedale District Council.”

He added: “A junction in this location has not been the subject of any technical, transport or environmental impact assessment.

“Additional protections against development are to be sought through a Local Green Space designation for this area reflecting its location as part of the setting for the Howardian Hills AONB, it’s high amenity value and extensive use by members of the public for leisure activities.

“High Malton became an election issue in the May elections with a large grouping of current council members campaigning against development thereby claiming a democratic mandate to propose a change to remove this junction from the plan.

“The plan also makes a provision for a southern bypass to Malton. This has been a long discussed idea to help relieve congestion. However, there are a number of practical obstacles. The changes now being sought are to test this project through a technical assessment.

“At its August meeting the council approved a programme which aims to effect the changes and to re-submit the plan in spring. Following a review by the new North Yorkshire Council an examination will be undertaken leading to a local referendum.”