Date set for summit on Malton market's future move

The support was vociferous and just short of 8,000 signatures were obtained. Traditionalists did not just want to see the livestock market continue, they wanted it to remain where it still is today, maintaining that bustling old-style market town atmosphere twice a week and providing additional business for other commercial concerns, including the renowned Spotted Cow pub - a favourite with farmers attending the mart for its real ale beers, succulent sandwiches and plentiful puddings.

Pat Foxton farms a mixed arable and livestock enterprise at North Farm in Silpho, near Scarborough where his daughter Lorna also runs an expanding holiday cottage business. He is a livestock haulier by trade and has been coming to Malton cattle market since he was three-years-old. As a child he attended the market with his father and grandfather who were buying for their village butchery business in Tibthorpe.

Pat became the figurehead of the ‘Save the Market’ campaign and is now chairman of the Malton & Ryedale Farmers Livestock Marketing Co Ltd that came into existence four years ago. He is pragmatic over the intended move but is getting concerned about the slow progress that has been made following terms of agreements and he feels the time is fast approaching for rhetoric to become reality. It is for that reason that, next week, he and his fellow board members are hosting a meeting which is designed to let everyone know what has happened, or in some ways not happened, in the past five years, to try and push things on.

He does not say it out loud because he is trying his best to be diplomatic and is keen to attain the most favourable outcome, but as in nearly every substantial move it all comes down to finance, land and, in Pat’s case seeing promises made being honoured. He just wants movement and the wherewithal that was shown to be there five years ago in order to finally get development under way.

“We can’t stay here as we don’t own the site. Fitzwilliam Malton Estate want to develop it and to be perfectly honest I think it’s ready for it. We’ve outgrown it and with haulage vehicles the size they are today it causes chaos on Tuesdays and Fridays. Good chaos because it means the town is busy, but I also understand the problems it creates.

“There are people who have nothing to do with agriculture who want to see the market remain here because it is part of the town’s DNA. The livestock market is Malton to many.

“Those who want it to stay are probably visionaries because they can see maybe further into the future about what Malton will become without the market at its heart, but if and when we do make the move on to the proposed site near Eden Camp just off the A64, the market will have options to expand, which we don’t have here.

“Having the market out of town means we would also have a more sanitised area. Heaven forbid that foot and mouth disease comes back again but if it did there’s no way we could secure this town centre site, yet we can secure a new market out of town because it would be perimeter fenced. We will also have much easier access without causing problems in the town with artics and large wagons.”

Pat and his fellow directors, including representatives of the two firms of mart auctioneers Cundalls and Boulton, Cooper, Stephenson, are committed to the move. They just want to get on with it. The auctioneering companies have pledged monetary support to the building of the new market, which will cost somewhere in the region of £2m.

One of the flies in the ointment is the receipt of the deeds to the land that Pat has been expecting from the Fitzwilliam Trust Corporation for some time.

“Five years ago we were approached by the then agent to the Fitzwilliam Trust Corporation. They own a significant amount of land and farms around the periphery of Malton. We were offered a fully serviced five-acre site and I have no reason to believe we won’t get it but it hasn’t been handed over to us as yet and until we do we are in limbo and still here in the town centre.

“So, as directors with the sole initial aim of getting the livestock market shifted to new premises, we felt it would be best to have a meeting where we can inform and update all supporters whether farmers or non-farmers about what has happened in the past five years, lay out the options available and ask what the supporters would like us to do.”

The proposed new livestock market near Eden Camp will have two sale rings, one for sheep, the other for cattle.

The site would give the opportunity for the market company to host other events such as car boot sales and would feature a functions hall.

“I am doing this for my children’s children, not just today’s generations,” says Pat.

“What could be worse than for one of my grandchildren to turn around to my son or daughter in 40 years’ time when I’m long since gone and say why didn’t the old feller do it when he had the chance?”

Pat is married to wife Moira who was a university lecturer. Their son James farms in Kenya.

Pat is no stranger to being involved with developing sites.

“We have cattle and sheep on the farm, but it’s the holiday accommodation that is set to be the main income earner here.”

The Malton & Ryedale Farmers Livestock Marketing Co Ltd evening meeting will take place at Malton Rugby Club in Old Malton on Wednesday, May 17 at 7pm. Anyone wishing to attend the meeting is asked to contact Pat on 07798 627815 or Anne Welham on 01653 697820.