DEVELOPERS are eyeing a site in Easingwold for a new supermarket, less than a year after planners turned down another scheme in the town.

Jomast Developments have applied for outline planning permission for a new supermarket and petrol station as well as access routes and open space on York Road to the south of Easingwold.

Last year’s application by Retail Development Limited for Stillington Road was turned down after consultants England and Lyle warned it would damage Easingwold’s character and force local independent shops out of business.

But district councillor Geoffrey Ellis said the new application, for a larger site on a main road into the town, could be what Easingwold needs to stop shoppers heading to big supermarkets in York, Boroughbridge and Thirsk to spend their money.

He said: “The previous application was turned down because it was surrounded by dwellings and there were major highways issues.

“The supermarket would have been too small and wouldn’t have prevented local residents doing their large weekly shopping in York. This one appears to overcome that issue. It’s a larger sized supermarket which will enable local residents to do their weekly shopping here.”

The scheme would also provide a much needed petrol station for the town.

“There is a problem in Easingwold because we only have one small filling station with limited hours of opening. Another would be very beneficial,” said Coun Ellis.

Yorkshire Water has already objected to the scheme, saying the proposed buildings lie above a mains water supply and would make it impossible to maintain the pipes. The new supermarket would lie on greenfield land earmarked for employment land.

Dozens of residents have already written to the council about the scheme, many with objections to the size of the proposed supermarket and the effect it could have on smaller local shops.