Store wins go-ahead despite fierce fight led by TV presenter

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a supermarket in a Yorkshire market town was given the go-ahead last night.

Rydedale District Council approved a development in Malton on the site of a car park which the authority has agreed to sell off for a £5m windfall.

Plans put forward by Leeds-based developer GMI Holbeck to develop the Wentworth Street car park were approved by a vote of 10 to 5 in favour at a planning meeting.

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A spokeswoman for the developers said they were very pleased with the outcome.

“We put forward a solid, technical case for this important development for Ryedale,” she said, “We’re satisfied we presented a compelling and robust case and we look forward to working with Ryedale District Council and the community.”

The company has maintained investment is vital after research revealed as much as £600,000 is spent each week on supermarket shopping outside of Ryedale in rival towns and cities.

But there has been a fiercely fought campaign, spearheaded by writer and TV presenter Selina Scott, to prevent the superstore being built. Campaigners had accused the council of undermining local democracy if it pushed ahead with the plans.

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Earlier this week, Ms Scott, who lives near Malton, said: “This little town has kept its character throughout the centuries. I hope councillors will be able to live with their consciences if they do give the go-ahead for the supermarket. What is going to happen to the newsagent, the butcher, the greengrocer and the bakery?

“They will simply not be able to compete – it is cruelty of the highest order. The Government’s idea of the Big Society and people having their say locally will be torpedoed if the council goes ahead with this.

“The people of Malton have said they do not want a supermarket there, but it looks as though their wishes will be ignored.”

Councillors also rejected plans to re-develop Malton’s livestock market. A smaller food store could have been created on the site in a rival scheme by the Fitzwilliam Estate, which has owned much of Malton town centre for the past 300 years.

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The estate had stressed it was planning to invest up to £15m in the site. But the estate’s agent, Roddy Bushell, was already resigned to a vote against the plan ahead of the meeting, claiming the project was about to be rejected in “cold blood” by the council which is “fixed on asset-stripping this precious town”.