Market town claims supermarket plans will 'bleed' town dry

by James Orr, writing in The Daly Telegraph 7 May 2012

Thousands of people with ties to Malton in North Yorkshire - including major landowers, the local baker, and television presenter Selina Scott - are up in arms after the controversial superstore was approved.The decision was made just days after the publication of the revised national planning framework, which the Government claimed would give local people greater say over developments in their community.

Some 2,000 people are now urging Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to “call in” the decision and intervene in an effort to prevent what they claim amounts to “serious injustice” and “irreversible damage”.
Today, in a letter to The Daily Telegraph, residents said agreeing to the new superstore would encourage other major retailers to “bully their way into smaller towns, bleed dry their butchers and bakers….and impoverish their high streets.”

The 99 signatories, which include Sir Nicholas and Lady Brooksbank of Menethorpe Hall, Miss Scott, and dozens of local businessmen, added: “Mr Pickles, if your policy is not to fall at the first hurdle, you really must call this matter in for objective review. To allow it to stand is undemocratic, a serious injustice, a political failure.”

The historic market town of Malton boasts more than 150 independent shops and already has three supermarkets serving a population of just 4,000 people. Residents have accused Ryedale District Council of “an astonishing act of civic abuse” by selling a local car park to a developer for £5 million. The car park was initially gifted to Malton by a landowner in 1962 for a token £500.

Ryedale’s planning committee has now given the go-ahead to turn the site into a 50,000 sq ft supermarket, despite the opposition of Malton town council, the chamber of trade and the neighbourhood plan consultation group. It is not yet known which supermarket will operate the site although Tesco last year described the development as an “interesting opportunity for a number of retailers” including themselves. In their letter, campaigners insist that giving developers the go-ahead went against the “overwhelming expression of opinion in the town”.
It continued: “Every single poll of public opinion has been against this decision by a factor of four-to-one. This elected body has decided to sell the people and the independent traders of Malton down the Derwent River”.

In March new reforms known as The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) ensured local councils must apply “a presumption in favour of sustainable development” when faced with planning decisions. Supporters said the rules would lead to greater engagement between the public and the planning process and avoid unwelcome developments.
But environmental groups warned the draft version of the legislation gave developers a "licence to build". The Daily Telegraph also launched a campaign called Hands Off Our Land urging ministers to think again.

Yesterday, Lady Emma Brooksbank said: “We object to an all singing all dancing superstore which risks bankrupting existing local traders. Mr Townsend, a pet shop owner, added that many local residents said the decision “could cause of a lot of independent shops to close”.

A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said: "The Secretary of State will consider all representations and make a decison in due course."
John Raper, chairman of Ryedale District Council’s planning committee, said the correct democratic processes in agreeing the planning application had been observed. He added: “People are upset but they are a vocal minority”.

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After moving to Malton from Sydenham in South London Anne Winzar says it has been lovely to go shopping here and find what she wants. “I worked in Sydenham High Street for 23 years and could always buy what I wanted, then a Sainsburys Superstore was built nearby. It was meant to save the High Street but two shoe shops, two clothes shops, a Chemist and Travel Agent all closed almost immediately. The book shop struggled until the one in the superstore closed, but there was more. In time, two greengrocers and two butchers closed since everything they sold was on offer in store, then a large department store that had opened in the 1900s went. It became easier to park in the car park on the edge of town so there was no footfall on pavements in the High Street. There was no friends greeting as you went shopping, just park, shop, and home. So, NO THANK YOU to a superstore in Malton, keep the town as it is!”