AN OFFER to put £35,000 into a piece of public art in Northallerton has been welcomed by the mayor, though he said he would prefer to see money invested in youth facilities.

The artwork will be paid for by Rokeby Developments Northern which has just been granted permission to build a 25,000sq ft retail unit in Willow Beck Road.

The proposed piece of art would stand on the corner of High Street and Willow Beck Road, serving as a landmark for the town.

The mayor, Coun Tony Hall, said: "If someone is willing to offer this to the town then of course we would welcome it. However, if there is that sort of money available for something to benefit the community I would like to see it channelled into youth facilities, which are a high priority for us."

But Maurice Cann, head of development control for Hambleton District Council, said the money must be put into the artwork. "If we allowed it to be put into anything else it would smack of people being able to buy planning permission, and that is simply not the case.

"The art is needed for a specific planning purpose relating to the development, namely as a focal point to compensate for the loss of a number of buildings in the High Street."

Coun Hall declined to put forward his own creative ideas for the artwork, but said local people should be consulted.

Permission for the Willow Beck Road development brings an end to the site's chequered history, in which numerous applications have been made and refused.

Nick Fordy, director of Rokeby Developments, expressed relief and delight that a project was finally able to go ahead on the land.

"The site has been a subject of discussion for years," said Mr Fordy. "We're very pleased that we can now take steps forward in this project which will bring huge benefits to the town and its people."

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