AN AMBITIOUS scheme to build an events arena and exhibition centre on the outskirts of a North Yorkshire town has gained the green light from planners.

The project to create the Northern Events Arena, just off the A169 on the edge of Pickering, won outline approval from Ryedale District Council a year ago.

It returned to the council's planning committee last night with a detailed scheme, including landscaping and specifications of the size of the complex buildings.

The plans, for what is currently open land used for car boot sales, and other functions including a traction engine rally, include a main exhibition hall, a cafe-restaurant, and an arena.

A report from architectural design company Bramhall Blenkham, which has produced the scheme for Pickering businessman Simon Boak, said: "The objective of the proposal is that the Northern Events Arena will act as a flagship for the area, raising the profile and generating genuine economic benefit."

But Coun John Clark said Pickering already had traffic problems and a lack of car parking. In addition, he said more traffic would create air pollution, especially at places like Butcher Corner, Malton.

"This site is not on a transport network," he said.

He said it would attract people from outside Pickering, and cause increased traffic and pollution problems.

But Coun Helen Schroeder disagreed. "The choice is: Do we want our market towns to be vibrant or do we let them stagnate and die?"

She believed the scheme would be of economic advantage to northern Ryedale.

Gary Housden, the council's planning manager, said: "A lot of thought has

gone into the landscaping of this site."

He said that following the committee's decision to approve the scheme it would have to be referred to the Government Office as a departure from the planning blueprint for Ryedale, but it was hoped early approval would be given.

Simon Boak said that he was "very pleased" at the decision. He said: "This has dragged on for a long time. Obviously we are very pleased that since the 18 months when we first filled in the planning proposal, the arena now looks 99 per cent likely to go ahead."

Updated: 10:54 Wednesday, September 17, 2003