BUSINESS leaders and farmers who packed Ryedale Council chamber last week failed to pursuade the authority not to sell Wentworth Street car park in Malton.

A number shouted protests to the councillors after they left at the end debate, which lasted almost four hours and resulted in a 17-10 vote in favour of putting part of the site on the market.

Several people took advantage of the public session to put their arguments to the council, with businessman Paul Beanland claiming that up to 150 car park spaces could be lost if the livestock market site is developed.

“A time is coming in the foreseeable future... when Wentworth Street car park could be overflowing” while Malton mayor, Coun Jason Fitzgerald-Smith said it was “an unacceptable risk” to sell the car park.

Nicholas Brooksbank, of Menethorpe Hall, urged the council to defer making a decision to enable Ryedale residents to “make an informed choice at the council elections in May”.

Denys Townsend, chairman of Malton and Norton Business in Action handed in a petition signed by 2,117 people asking for the sale bid to be blocked.

But Julian Rudd, the council’s head of economy, said the car park was being advertised because there was currently “a healthy interest” by seven potential development companies in the site.

Its sale, he added, would enable “a significant sum” to be realised, which would enable the council to carry out a number of major projects, including the building of workspace for small businesses, redevelopment of the Milton Rooms, and enhancement of Malton’s public areas.

Mr Rudd said tenders would have to be submitted to Ryedale House by September 17, after which the council would hold a special meeting to discuss them in detail.

He said “Every authority has been told to make full use of its assets.”

Ryedale council had plans to build an enterprise centre which would cost £5 million, while the Milton Rooms development was likely to cost £8 million.

Coun Howard Keal said the council had listened to the public.

He warned: “We are in danger of losing millions of pounds which could be used to benefit the people of Ryedale, and Malton in particular.”

High-spending shoppers were opting to go to York or Scarborough, he said, adding that only about 20 to 30 per cent of the car park was used. Coun Keal said: “It is a hopeless waste of a valuable resource.”

Council leader Coun Keith Knaggs said the livestock market was not threatened by what happened to Wentworth Street.

He said: “No councillor has a mandate to turn this opportunity down,” he said. Coun Knaggs said he would welcome a dialogue with the Fitzwilliam Estate but previous approaches had met with “dead silence”.

The council needed money to invest in the Ryedale community, he said, adding that it was already committed to spending £1.15 million on Ryedale sports centre, £800,000 on flood defence work for Pickering, and £1.15 million to improve access to the A64 at Brambling Fields.

Coun Keal urged the council: “Seize this opportunity – don’t turn your backs on it.”

A plea that it was important Ryedale got its overall plan for Malton right, was made by Coun John Clark, who had earlier successfully moved that the upper tier of the car park should not be included in the potential sale of the site.

Other councillors warned that another supermarket would damage existing traders while others said it could attract more businesses and occupation of existing empty shops.

However, Coun Edward Legard, urged: “Don’t be seduced by money. Another supermarket won’t bring prices down – it will bring traders down. A two-way street of dialogue is needed between the council and the Fitzwilliam Estate.”


How they voted:

For: Acomb, (Con), S Arnold (Con), V Arnold (Con), Bailey (Con), Cottam (Con), Cowling (Con), Cussons (Con), Frank (Con), Hawkins (Con), Hemesley (Ind), Hope (Con), D Keal (LibDem), H Keal (LibDem), Knaggs (Con), Raper (Con), Wainwright (Ind), Wilford (LibDem).

Against: Andrews (Ind), Clark (Lib), Cowan (Lib), De Wend Fenton (LibDem), Legard (Con), Maud (Ind), Sheilds (LibDem), Spencer (LibDem), Warriner (Ind), Woodward (Lib) Not present: Burr (LibDem), Hodgson (LibDem), and Windress (Con).