AN OPTIMISTIC view of Malton’s long-term future has been painted by the local head of its biggest land and property owner, the Fitzwilliam Estate.

Manager Roddy Bushell believes the historic town has considerable potential to attract new businesses, more shoppers and enhance its image.

He sees the Mount Hotel, a major property on the main approach into Malton – but which has been empty for at least 12 years – as a possible hub for new office and high tech enterprises.

It could, Mr Bushell told the Gazette and Herald, provide a complex of serviced offices. “It is a prestigious address with car parking and would provide a very presentable face for businesses.”

He believes there are businesses which would move into the old hotel if it was given a new lease of life and renovated.

Small and new businesses could particularly benefit by occupying regenerated accommodation in The Mount, with a central point reception facility which would benefit all occupants.

While the newly restored listed building, York House, nearby, is still empty, it could accommodate the estate offices in the long term should the ambitious plan for a new Roman Museum and visitor centre become a reality at Orchard Park and the estate yard in Old Maltongate – a scheme which the trustees of the museum, currently housed in the old Town Hall, have said they want to achieve.

The museum’s lease at the Town Hall in the Market Place is due to end in the next two years and the trustees are pinning hopes on winning grant aid towards a plan to convert buildings near the nationally important Roman heritage site at Castle Fields and Orchard Park.

Mr Bushell said architects are drawing up plans for its possible alternative uses which could include an up-market restaurant.

While the Market Place was an opportunity area for environmental enhancement schemes, he said it was “ a struggle” to get public investment in such projects especially in the present climate, and with Yorkshire Forward, the Government regional development agency, due to fold in its present form.

On shopping, Mr Bushell said that about 10 per cent of Malton’s shops were unoccupied but attempts were being made to find traders to take them over. He welcomed the vote of confidence by W H Smith in opening a shop in the town. It was a step forward in the aim of the estate and Ryedale District Council to reverse the present state of trading in Malton which was seeing £1 in every six being leaked to such places as York, Scarborough and Monks Cross in Huntington.

While pedestrian-priority zones in the Market Place had been suggested in the past, there had been little enthusiasm for the idea at the time.

Mr Bushell said: “We had put forward a potential scheme for shared space. In terms of amenity in the town, traffic is the biggest issue.”

Investment in the Milton Rooms would have considerable benefit not only for Malton but for the whole of Ryedale. Mr Bushell said: “An attractive complex would bring people into the area to events.”

The estate, he said, had over the years invested “hundreds of thousands of pounds” in its property in Malton.

But it was vital that the town retained its town centre parking. “A supermarket can be built on other sites, but not a car park which needs to be close to the main shopping area.”