A WIDE-RANGING wish list of schemes to revitalise the economies of two towns has been drawn up by consultants.

Projects earmarked for Malton and Norton include relocating Malton livestock market and redeveloping the prime town centre site, building start-up premises for new businesses and creating a community woodland at the historic Roman Castle site in Malton.

Amelio Consulting Ltd also says there is a need for new affordable homes to be built and for a new traffic system to be put in place to rid the towns of heavy through-traffic.

The company was commissioned to produce the draft document, called the Initial Business Plan, by Ryedale District Council, Yorkshire Forward, Malton and Norton Area Partnership and Ryedale Local Strategic Partnership.

Twenty-three short, medium and long-term projects have been listed.

The consultants have said that one of the main priorities should be to make improvements to the A64 junctions on the approaches to both towns, to rid them of heavy goods vehicles.

Their next step is to carry out feasibility studies on the projects.

After that, funding will be sought, but it is hoped that much of the development will be led in partnerships between private enterprise, Yorkshire Forward and Ryedale District Council.

Roddy Bushell, manager of the Fitzwilliam Estate, Malton's biggest property owner, welcomed the move.

He said it was good to see positive ideas for Malton and Norton and that detailed proposals were being considered by Ryedale District Council, Yorkshire Forward and other organisations.

Mr Bushell said: "This plan can be Malton and Norton's route map.

"Malton may have suffered from a lack of direction over the past 30 years and now we have a clear destination set out before us.

"The plan raises some critical issues for the towns in terms of retail, housing need, and transportation.

"I would argue that the traffic improvements need to be carried out early to resolve problems.

"But I welcome the understanding and ambition shown by Ryedale District Council that Malton needs to grow if it is to survive and prosper and serve its community."