RESIDENTS of Malton and Norton will have to wait for a decision on the siting of the proposed new sports and leisure centre for the twin towns of Malton and Norton after councillors reached a deadlock.

At the end of one of the longest ever meetings of the district council - lasting just over five hours - they decided to adjourn the meeting until tomorrow, when they will reconvene at 6.30pm.

There had been conflicting views on which of three sites should be chosen - the former Yorkshire Woolgrowers in Norton, Malton School or the Fitzwilliam Estate land in Old Malton Road alongside the cricket and rugby pitches.

Earlier, consultants appointed by Ryedale District Council (RDC), Saunders Boston Ltd, had told the authority that Malton School was the best site.

Martin Lindus, who led the site investigations for the consultants, said there had been a disappointing response from the public to the two exhibitions staged at the Milton Rooms to encourage public interest in the schemes.

Just 50 people attended, he said, but some had been representing organisations. "It was not the most impressive of consultations," he added. But Malton School had emerged the "hands down" winner, said Mr Lindus.

The Woolgrowers site was "not an option", while the Fitzwilliam site was attractive but could be expensive to develop to appease planning policies. "Malton School is a relatively easy site to develop," he said.

However, when it came to making a selection of a site, councillors were divided.

Coun Keith Knaggs said the Fitzwilliam site was the most accessible and if Norton people believed that building the centre at Malton School was too far away, it would be "the kiss of death" for it.

Coun Howard Keal urged action on the project. "It is insanity to only support the scheme in our own backyard. We all pay for something in someone else's area. We have a community responsibility. This is a sports desert - we should do something for the community in Malton and Norton. I want to see this happen and so should you," he told the council.

Coun Chris Parkin said the Fitzwilliam site offered "a real opportunity for a spectacular development", adding: "I get concerned about being a hostage to archaeology if it is under six feet of soil."

However, he added, it was vital that RDC had a partner in the development, both in building and running it. As a result he had "reluctantly" come to the conclusion that Malton School was the best option because it would involve the school and North Yorkshire County Council.

Coun Di Keal believed the consultants had "gone for the easy option rather than the right one" in selecting Malton School, which would see increased traffic in a residential area, major conflict between children and traffic in Middlecave Road and Broughton Road.

Because of its distance from Norton, there would be traffic congestion. A more central site to serve the towns was the Fitzwilliam land, she added.

New cycle routes were being planned which would make the site accessible and there was no flood risk to the site. The archaeological remains were in a field adjoining the one highlighted for the leisure centre.

Coun John Raper believed that people living in villages well away from Malton and Norton would resent paying for the centre. In his own area of Foxholes, people went to centres at Scarborough which were nearer.

Coun Lindsay Burr, vice chairman of the council said a lot of work had been put into the site selection issue by officers and councillors. "This council is serious about improving leisure facilities. We need to keep the momentum going."

She added that at a meeting on May 12, a decision would be made on how - and if - to progress the scheme.

Updated: 15:13 Wednesday, March 09, 2005