Officials square up over town revival

Plans have been announced this week for ambitious schemes to breathe life into the historic town centre, including a proposed development of the current Malton Livestock Market site and a project to reopen the 17th century Talbot Hotel.

Now, following the announcements by the Fitzwilliam Estate which has owned much of Malton town centre for the past 300 years, Julian Rudd, head of economy and housing for Ryedale District Council has reiterated its controversial proposals to sell off the Wentworth Street car park for development – subject to planning permission being secured.

But a spokesman for the Fitzwilliam Estate told the Yorkshire Post: “There is only enough capacity for one or the other.

“Our view is the potential development of the Wentworth Street car park into a major supermarket is potentially very damaging to the trade in our town.”

Mr Rudd said: “When Ryedale District Council consulted local people about Malton town centre sites in 2008, over 1,500 people attended.

“Of the more than 400 written responses received, a slight majority supported a new store at Wentworth Street as compared to those who did not

“The planning system will decide which, if any, retail proposals at Malton are taken forward. This will include a new and extensive public consultation process.

“The operator of the proposed store has not yet been finalised and the store would, at most, be a similar size to the Morrisons store in Malton.

“The sale would raise at least £5m, all of which would be invested in Ryedale to benefit local people.”