POST Office bosses have been told they can move their premises to a new site in Malton - but a senior councillor claims it could prove an empty victory.

Postmaster David Lewis wants to move the office from Wheelgate to a vacant shop in Market Place.

Plans to refurbish the interior of the shop and knock down an historic chimney met with opposition from English Heritage and Ryedale District Council planning officers.

But at a meeting of the central area planning committee, councillors decided the plans could go ahead at the Grade II listed building. Mr Lewis argued that without removing the chimney he would not be able to provide proper disabled access into the post office.

Coun Alan Farnaby said: "This is going to improve facilities for people in the town. It will also help the viability of the town and we should support it."

Coun Brian Cottam favoured approval because he said the historical chimney had been covered up for many years and was not in use.

"This serves no purpose and it is in a working building which needs to be able to continue."

But committee chairman Coun Allin Jenkins warned members that if they approved the scheme it would have to go before the council's policy and resources committee - and that would risk scuppering the plan

"This could lead to a further delay that if we decided to give approval with the condition that the chimney stayed," he said. Despite this warning councillors decided to support the plan.

Updated: 10:33 Wednesday, December 12, 2001