Candidates contesting a by-election have voiced views over a controversial proposal to build a commercial and light industrial complex across a designated “local green space” and “green infrastructure corridor” at the gateway of a market town.
Just days ahead of Thursday’s vote in Sowerby and Topcliffe to elect a councillor to represent them on North Yorkshire Council most candidates have pledged to battle against a revised plan submitted by Calvert’s Carpets to build a 40,000sq ft warehouse and five other warehouse units off York Road.
Applicant documents state the £10m development would become the company’s main distribution centre with a showroom for the firm’s 16 stores, and would lead to 25 full-time equivalent jobs on the site, although it is unclear whether some of the roles would be transferred from elsewhere.
The proposal, which is close to the River Swale tributary Cod Beck, comes just months after the firm withdrew plans, which also included a 74-bedroom Travelodge hotel and a Starbucks-drive thru, for the land off the A170, which was not allocated in the Hambleton Local Plan.
The application comes as the authority’s planning officers are facing calls to draw up “ecological red lines” around market towns such as Thirsk to preserve popular walking routes, ecosystems and best quality farmland.
Conservative candidate Dave Elders, who was among a group of councillors who voted to approve the McDonald’s and petrol station development on a neighbouring unallocated greenfield site beside the Calvert’s proposal, said until he could see the full application he would “reserve” his position.
He said, if elected, he “would weigh up all the facts”, but would need to be convinced both landscaping and drainage proposals were adequate for the development.
Mr Elders added: “There’s a very difficult balancing act to be achieved between protecting the area and promoting and supporting business opportunities to provide employment and services for residents and so sometimes there will be difficult decisions to make.”
Liberal Democrat candidate Dan Sladden said he was opposed to any additional development between York Road and the Cod Beck.
He said: “The Flatts and the beck are too important to us as a community to risk any further environmental damage. Ultimately, I want to see the existing conservation area extended to York Road, but in the meantime, if elected, I will fight tooth and nail to ensure our green spaces are protected and preserved.”
John Law, the Green Party’s candidate, said he was not in favour of applications that “drastically reduce the green space around the town”, adding that the proposed site was “very valuable to the community of Thirsk and Sowerby”.
He said the proposal “was probably quite a lot of people’s worst fear” following the approval of the neighbouring McDonald’s and fuel station development.
Mr Law said: “The local community are pretty much unanimously against the latest proposal. Development does need to happen, but it needs to happen in the right place.”
Labour candidate Helen Tomlinson said there had been “overwhelming public opposition” at public meetings over the proposal.
She said: “It’s on the Local Plan as a green corridor and I think that should be honoured as it’s what the people have democratically asked for. There’s designated land for this sort of development on Sowerby Gateway.”
John Hall, the Yorkshire Party candidate, said other brownfield sites were available for the proposed development.
He added: “This is not acceptable. I strongly oppose this development.”
Stew Exotic, of The Monster Raving Loony Party, has been approached for comment.
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