COUNCIL chiefs in Ryedale are to be put on the spot about the controversy surrounding the multi-million redevelopment of Malton Livestock Market.

Ryedale District Council turned down the Fitzwilliam Estate’s plans to build a foodstore, other shops and a car park on the site last March.

However, this was later overturned on appeal by a Government planning inspector who also said the authority should reconsider a separate scheme for a supermarket in Wentworth Street car park in Malton.

The council approved the supermarket plans and has agreed in principle to sell the Wentworth Street site, having warned reversing that decision would affect its future budget options.

Councillors Edward Legard and Paul Andrews have now lodged a series of questions about the two planning applications ahead of next week’s full council meeting.

The questions include how much the authority has had to pay out in legal costs.

They have also asked why council planners originally recommended the livestock market plans for refusal, after the Government inspector said mistakes were made in the planning process and suggested councillors who ultimately made the decision may have been given incorrect advice.