NORTON Town Council has rejected amended plans to build a supermarket on Wentworth Street car park in Malton.

A revised scheme has been submitted for the site by developer GMI Holbeck Ltd.

The plan, which comes 18 months after Ryedale district councillors were “minded to grant” planning permission for the store, includes an enhanced walkway to Malton Market Place, three hours free parking and a public piazza for community events.

Last year, a Government planning inspector ruled that the district council should reconsider the approval of plans to develop the car park and that proposals for Malton livestock market by the Fitzwilliam (Malton) Estate should be allowed.

Councillor Paul Farndale said the amended planning application took everything back to the drawing board once again.

“The district council is not listening to what people are saying and I personally think an enormous supermarket is not suitable for Malton,” he said.

“If they must bring one to Ryedale why not have it in Pickering.”

Coun Farndale said he would like to see a Premier Inn or something similar on the site.

“That would bring people into the town and we would still have the car park, which would be much better for Malton and Norton,” he said.

“Let Pickering or Helmsley have the supermarket and see how their shops survive.”

Councillor David Lloyd-Williams said it was the return of a situation which was declared unlawful last time. “Although it is slightly smaller a lot of things that will be sold there are already available at shops across the two towns,” he said.

“Pickering is welcome to it. They have a Lidl coming so maybe they would like another supermarket. I certainly don’t think we need another one here, there is no capacity now the livestock market site has approval.”

Councillor Jonathan Gray said he was concerned about losing the car park. “I do think the towns will regret it in the future,” he said.

“It is important to have a car park in the town particularly when we get the number of vehicles here at events such as the food festival.”

However deputy mayor Councillor Di Keal added: “I think we much be very careful with misinformation and inflammatory comments.”

Councillors voted in favour of refusing the application with two abstentions.