Town landscape fears (From York Press)

Town landscape fears

9:29am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Letters

THE decision by the Injured Jockeys Fund to build their northern rehabilitation centre in Malton is good news for injured jockeys and for Malton.

There is, however, one area of concern and that is its proposed location on the field in front of Malton Rugby Club, between Old Malton Road and the Club.

Firstly, this is agricultural land and in use as such.

Secondly, in the newly published Ryedale Plan it expressly states the council’s desire to “protect the sweeping belt of strategic open space and recreation land between Old Malton Road and the River Derwent”, and to “avoid coalescence with Old Malton to ensure the village remains legible in its own right”.

Finally, it is one of the great landscapes in our town and always has been used for farming or recreational use.

I am aware that the Injured Jockeys Fund looked at a number of other sites, including the abandoned business park development at Manor Farm, Old Malton, where much infrastructure work took place prior to the developer’s demise.

I would suggest the fund revisits places such as Manor Farm, which would be particularly appropriate as I understand it was the site of Earl Fitzwilliam’s stud many years ago.

Coun Martin Dales, Old Malton.