PROTESTERS used black balloons and placards to display their opposition to a new 500-home development in Malton.

West Malton Residents’ Group (WRMG) staged a protest in Yorkersgate on Friday to highlight the increased air pollution it says will result from the proposed High Malton scheme.

The Fitzwilliam Malton Estate (FME) has submitted the plans for 500 homes on a 21-hectare site between Castle Howard Road and Middlecave Road to Ryedale District Council.

Today the group's efforts have been boosted by the news that RDC planning officer Jill Thompson has recommended the scheme be refused.

WRMG says nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in parts of Malton are already higher than the EU recommended limit and the cars from the new development would only exacerbate this.

Chairman Ian Conlan said: "444 people have signed the petition against High Malton. This protest is just a small sample of the people involved.

"Air pollution is not the only objection we have, but it is one of the key ones.

"It's a very significant health issue. There are 29,000 deaths caused by it each year in the UK.

"We don't think the council are taking the air pollution seriously.

"The best thing they can do is have a moratorium on all housing development before this is resolved."

Reflecting on the recommended refusal for the scheme, he added: "We are pleased that the planning officer Jill Thompson has taken residents' concerns and that of other officers in recommending refusal for this application.

"She has recognised that this application does not reflect its context, and would damage the landscape setting of both Malton and the surrounding countryside, especially the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

The application is due to be voted on by RDC's planning committee on Tuesday, October 20.

A spokesman for FME said: "We have no comment to make at this time."