A NORTH Yorkshire trader today begged the Government not to lift restrictions on out-of-town shopping centres.

Ian Beecham, vice-chairman of Malton and Norton Chamber of Trade, said he was "alarmed" at reports claiming a relaxation of the strict planning laws was in the pipeline.

The Government today vigorously denied such a move was planned.

But Mr Beecham said any relaxation would be "absolutely demoralising" for high street traders like those in Malton and Norton, just recovering after an influx of large shopping sites in the early 1990s, when planning rules were less stringent.

He said: "I know the Government is saying it's making it more difficult for out-of-town shopping centres to thrive. In our view that's shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

"At the moment we are in very, very fragile recovery mode in Malton and Norton. The embers of business are starting to be fanned."

As local shops recover from the impact of sites including Monks Cross and Clifton Moor outside York being built, Mr Beecham said the last thing needed was expansion or new ventures.

"Frankly, we've had enough, and it would be absolutely demoralising if this happened. We're looking for a period of consolidation."

Mr Beecham, 53, who runs three pharmacies in the area, said the towns had moved forward to attract new trade, with a string of specialist firms adding fresh diversity.

Next week, he added, would be the first time in his 25 years that all Norton's 70 shops would be occupied. "It's encouraging - but no stronger than that."

A spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister denied Chancellor Gordon Brown was ready to relax the rules amid pressure from giant retailers wanting to build 30,000 sq ft stores.

He said a national newspaper had misinterpreted proposed changes in planning policy by confusing support for "edge of town" developments - on brownfield sites like ex-factory land in areas of high unemployment - with "out-of-town" greenfield sites.

"We have made it clear we do not want to see large out-of-town centres being built," he said. Speculation that the changes would pave the way for vast continental-style hypermarkets outside city centres was inaccurate.

The spokesman could not rule out further expansion of existing out-of-town sites, but said they would only get the nod if such developments could not be carried out in city centres.

Updated: 10:59 Tuesday, March 23, 2004