Cllr Howard Keal, leader of the Lib-Dems on the council, said: "We still need to look at all the evidence from all interested parties and groups before reaching a decision on what happens about the car park and that will have to be based on the facts."

His comments follows report's in a new publication entitled Malton's Future which is supported by Malton Town Council, Norton Town Council, Malton and Norton Business in Action and the Fitzwilliam Estate.

It says: "Plans are being made right now by Ryedale District Council that could change forever the way the market town of Malton looks and feels."

It adds: "Ask the planners to explain why they want to kill off local businesses or to challenge any of the facts and figures we have mentioned."

It focuses on the future of Malton and stresses the need to avoid it being affected by out-of-town shopping centres as has happened elsewhere.

Cllr Keal, who is a member of the council's planning committee, said: "It is of serious concern that there is an inaccuracy in claiming the town will lose its car park which, whatever happens, is simply not true.

"All possible options with regard to the car park are still on the table and expressions of interest have been pouring in."

He added that even if the supermarket plan went ahead it would occupy just 20 per cent of the car park which was only operating at 25 per cent of its capacity.

He felt a supermarket could mean people stopping to shop in Malton instead of going to places such as York or Scarborough, which could mean a potential gain for specialist shops.

"The one thing that is right is that Malton has a strong and distinctive base of local traders offering something that supermarkets simply cannot do and that is where the town's strength will continue to secure," said Cllr Keal.