MORE public support needs to be shown for the plan to build a sports centre for central Ryedale, say councillors who have opted to back the Malton School site for the development.

But while 10 members of the Liberal Democrats, Independents, and Liberal groups back the site, the Conservatives abstained after their leader, Coun Keith Knaggs, said that while the school site appeared to be the only option, only 50 people had attended a consultation exhibition and 20 of those were thought to have been councillors and officers.

"We need to see more evidence of demand from the whole of central Ryedale, not just Malton and Norton," he added.

Coun Knaggs said he was concerned that more money would be spent on consultants' fees on top of the £64,000 which had already been used. But Coun Howard Keal said that while the school was not the best site geographically, it was the most achievable. "It gives us the best chance of success and sustainability," he said, adding that the area had waited for 20 years for such a centre.

"Young people deserve investment in their welfare. We have to live up to our responsibilities and help to make a difference."

Several councillors said they had reservations about the centre plan.

Coun Brian Cottam believed the project was being promoted for "political advantage rather than need" and said the district council already gave £250,000 a year to run its swimming pools and sports centre at Pickering.

"I would love to see a sports facility, but not at any price."

Coun Allin Jenkins said he had favoured the Fitzwilliam Estate site in Old Malton Road where there were already cricket, football and rugby pitches, and where other sports could be located.

But a letter from Don Low, chairman of Malton and Norton Sports Association to councillors, had said that archaeological work needed to be carried out on the site which could cost £33,000.

He said the association could not afford such a sum and it wanted more details on the scheme. "The whole scheme depends on a land swap between various companies under the umbrella of the Fitzwilliam Estate, that the site upon which the tennis squash and bowls clubs now occupy, and which is currently designated under the local plan for being for sporting and recreational use, could be redesignated without this restriction, if the estate provided an alternative site."

Chief executive Harold Mosley said that despite significant sums on studies being carried out in the past, schemes had always foundered. "It has never commanded a consistent, firm, working majority in the council."

He said the investigations needed on the archaeology at the Fitzwilliam site created uncertainty about its viability.

Mr Mosley said: "If Malton School is selected, the study moves to the next stage of preparing a business plan and at a special meeting of the council in May, members will again have to decide to proceed or not."

Coun Di Keal said it was important to encourage older people to use the centre. She believed there was the demand but insufficient consultation had been carried out."

Coun Lindsey Burr, chairman of the working party which had been leading the project, said the campaign for a centre dated back 25 years.

Sport England had recognised the need and Malton School had been committed from the start.

Coun Elizabeth Shields said the school site would be the cheapest to develop and there would be a partnership arrangement for the council.

The public have another opportunity to see the plans at the Milton Rooms on Saturday, March 19.

Coun Helen Schroeder believed that if the scheme was to make progress, the council had little choice but to opt for the school site. "We have made a commitment to the people of central Ryedale," she said. "We either go for Malton School or we pull the rug altogether on the centre."

After the meeting, Coun Knaggs said his group had not voted on the issue because it was feared the running costs could be as much as £200,000 a year.

"The debate we have had on the centre is Ryedale's equivalent of Groundhog Day. We shall see if the business plan stacks up."

The consultation day, when you can air your views about the sports centre plans, will be held on Saturday at the Milton Rooms, Malton, between 9.30am and 4pm.

Updated: 10:28 Wednesday, March 16, 2005