MEMBERS of Malton Town Council have unanimously rejected new plans for a supermarket on Wentworth Street car park at a special meeting held last week.

A revised scheme has been submitted by developer GMI Holbeck Ltd, 18 months after Ryedale councillors were “minded to grant” planning permission for the store.

The scheme includes an enhanced walkway to the Market Place, three hours’ free parking and a public piazza for community events.

Last year, a Government planning inspector ruled that the district council should reconsider the approval of plans to develop the car park and that proposals for Malton livestock market by the Fitzwilliam (Malton) Estate should be allowed.

Malton Town Council urged the district council, which owns the site, to call in the Department of Local Government and Communities to decide the latest application.

Town clerk Mike Skehan said the process of determining the application appeared to be “unfairly loaded” in favour of the district council, as the land owner and the deciding authority.

“The council should seek advice from the Government and have the application called in for a decision,” he said.

Councillor Martin Dales said there were major concerns about the impact of a new store on Malton’s infrastructure, particularly issues such as flooding and traffic control.

Roddy Bushell, manager of Fitzwilliam (Malton) Estate, urged the council to object to the scheme.

“Another store in the Wentworth Street car park will damage the town centre economy,” he said.

Winston Kobyalka, who runs Woodalls, in the Market Place, said that Malton needed a “human-sized” supermarket and felt a larger one would result in increased traffic congestion and less people using existing shops.

A spokesman for Ryedale District council said a special meeting of the planning committee would be held to determine the outstanding application.

The precise date of the meeting had yet to be agreed, but it is thought that it might be held in the Milton Rooms, in Malton.

“Arrangements are as before – any member can speak but only the planning committee members can vote as they are the local planning authority,” the spokesman added.