CAMPAIGNERS have reacted with disappointment and anger after plans for a supermarket on Wentworth Street car park in Malton were finally given the go-ahead.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has written to Ryedale District Council confirming that it will not be calling in the application, meaning the council’s decision to allow the application made in April can stand.

Members of MASS (Malton Against SuperStore) which was set up last year to fight the supermarket plans said it was bad news for Malton.

Emma Brooksbank, from the group, which consists of Totally Locally Malton & Norton, Malton & Norton Chamber of Trade and Fitzwilliam Malton Estate, said: "People in Malton will be angry that Eric Pickles – after a long, unexplained delay – has chosen to do absolutely nothing about this, which means it won’t get the independent scrutiny it so clearly needs."

"MASS is strongly in favour of the redevelopment of the town centre livestock market site which would underpin Malton’s independent shops and ensure their future.

"It is hard to believe that it is the Government’s intention to allow a district council, which will benefit financially from giving itself planning consent for an edge of town superstore, just to ignore ‘Town Centre First’, which is one of the crucial planks of National Planning Policy."

Planning committee member Councillor Lindsay Burr, who represents Malton said she was very disappointed.

"The Secretary of State shows total disregard for the overwhelming public discontent over this application," she added.

"The people of Ryedale fought really hard to persuade the committee to see reason and not pass this application. Very good, sound objections were submitted, but fell on deaf ears.

Coun Burr said: "Objectors including myself feel a large supermarket on this particular site is not necessary and is not integral to the town centre. It also could have a massive negative impact on the survival of many small businesses in our town."

The Fitzwilliam Malton Estate, which requested the plans were called in, said it was taking legal advice and reviewing options.

Roddy Bushell, Fitzwilliam Malton Estate’s manager, said: “Many people in Malton will be confused and appalled that the Secretary of State – after a lengthy and unexplained delay – has chosen to do absolutely nothing about the obviously defective planning procedure by which Ryedale District Council has granted permission for a superstore on its own Wentworth Street car park.

By requiring an independent scrutiny of the proposal, he could have given this community its only opportunity to test the convenient evidence on which it relied.”

Mr Bushell added: “The large majority of Malton community passionately oppose the council’s superstore and are equally in favour of the livestock market redevelopment which will revitalise the town centre.

He said: "The fight to protect Malton is not over.”

The district council’s solicitor, Anthony Winship, said notice had been received that the planning applications should be determined locally by Ryedale District Council being the local planning authority .

"The planning applications were properly considered at the district council planning committee meeting on April 24. 2014 having due regard to all material planning considerations and dealt with in accordance with planning legislation and planning policy at both the national and local level," he added.

A spokesman for the applicants GMI Holbeck Land said they did not wish to comment at this stage.