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  • "
    Plainspeaker wrote:
    The planning department at Ryedale District Council should be made accountable for it's actions. It is decisions like this which drive businesses out of the area. Why is this viewed as a "sensitive site", too close to the council offices?? Shame on you RDC.
    i think the site covers part of the Roman Fort complex and it's access road etc. I remember the Rugby Club had to do expensive archaeological surveys etc before they were allowed to build the new clubhouse. It's also a lovely drive into the town from this side and a building close to the road would spoil that - as well as setting a precedent that would make it very difficult to stop other things being built on this route in the future. Anyway - why are the developers only speaking to the planners now? Surely they should have done so before they started making promises in the press? Or were they trying to force the planners hand by making them out to be stopping a development without good reason, when in fact anyone who knows the area and it's history could have told them it was a non starter exactly because of the choice of site?"
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Jockey rehabilitation centre plan for Malton thrown into doubt

3:00pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Ryedale news By Karen Darley

PROPOSALS for a multi-million pound rehabilitation centre for injured jockeys which would provide a major boost for the local racing industry and Ryedale’s economy could be in jeopardy.

A meeting with planning officers from Ryedale District Council last week raised a number of issues regarding the site near Malton and Norton Rugby Club favoured by the Injured Jockeys Fund.

Members of the charity, which hoped to see Jack Berry House built this year, will now meet to decide whether to pursue the application or look elsewhere in Yorkshire.

Malton had been earmarked for the IJF’s second rehabilitation centre in the UK, with Jack Berry MBE, vice-president of the charity, spearheading the campaign for a facility in the north of England.

The £5 million Oaksey House in Lambourn, Berkshire, was opened in 2009 to provide accommodation and facilities, including specialist physiotherapy, medical consultations and a rehabilitation gym.

John Fairley, from Norton’s Highfield Stables, a trustee of the IJF, said: “Our chief executive and professional advisors came away from the meeting with council officer very disappointed.

“We have looked at 12 sites in Malton and Norton and they all had problems of one kind or another.”

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Mr Fairley said many people felt the centre should be in Middleham or Catterick, but he had always pushed for Malton, knowing the benefits it would bring to the area.

“It would be absolutely state-of-the-art with people coming here from across the north of England. As well as creating jobs the centre will bring people to spend money in the area.

“The IJF may decide to persist with this site or go elsewhere in Yorkshire. A decision will be made in the next week to 10 days but they are not actively looking at other sites in Malton.

“I have not given up on bringing the centre to Malton, far from it, but this is a big setback.”

Concerns had already been expressed by Malton Town Council over the proposed location. Coun Martin Dales said there were plenty of other sites that could be considered.

He said: “It is our job to represent what people are saying and there has been some concern over this site. People want the centre but they want it in the right place.”

“I do hope that they don’t look elsewhere and revisit some of the other locations in Malton. This is a marvellous opportunity but it needs proper consideration and discussion.”

Gary Housden, head of planning at Ryedale District Council, said: “Officers are working closely with the Injured Jockey Fund to identify a less sensitive site for this substantial facility than the area they initially identified.

“The council is acutely aware of the value of locating the proposed Jack Berry House facility in Malton and Norton, not only for the injured jockeys who would be treated there but also for the local racing industry and for the economy of Ryedale.

“The council has suggested a number of alternative locations for the facility and the Injured Jockeys Fund is now investigating these.”

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