THE demolition of the Livestock Market could be an 'extremely serious and grave mistake', a packed public meeting heard last week.

But the view was also expressed that Abergavenny needed 'something else other than a cattle market to bring people into town'.

The meeting, held at the Angel Hotel, was called by the Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market campaigners who are fighting Monmouthshire County Council plans to relocate the livestock market to Bryngwyn near Raglan and demolish the current structure to make way for the construction of a Morrisons supermarket and a library on the site.

A variety of speakers gave their opinions on the issue and the audience heard an update on the current legal situation over the two judicial reviews into the planning process and the repeal of the town's Improvement Acts.

The meeting, attended by some 150 people, began with former trade unionist Philip Bowyer, who chaired the debate, saying, "Part of the reason for calling this meeting is to indicate that the campaign is still very much alive after Monmouthshire County Council has started to give the impression that it's a done deal and it's all over.

"There are so many outstanding issues that are still on-going, like the two judicial reviews that are due to be heard next month. We want a proper discussion about the future of this town."

KALM founder Jenny Long said, "It's an 11th hour battle to save the Livestock Market being relocated out of town. We want to regenerate this town, but this is impossible with the lack of dialogue with the county council, as they refuse to listen to us.

"We can make the town something very special - a centre of excellence for agriculture in Abergavenny."

Sue Pritchard, an organic farmer, claimed that this was the worst case she had ever seen of a council ignoring the wishes of the community.

"The democratic decision to relocate the Livestock Market is an extremely serious and grave mistake. Local views have been trashed and the council has ridden roughshod over groups like KALM.

"Abergavenny's Livestock Market is a hub for something important, it's something Monmouthshire County Council doesn't understand."

Lisa Foster acting for Richard Buxton Solicitors, KALM's legal representatives, said that £14,000 was needed for a fighting fund as part of their commitment to secure community funding as part of their legal aid agreement with the Legal Services Commission.

She added, "What is important is that the planning principal issues that KALM have highlighted are properly scrutinised. What we have to do is point out to the high court judge the procedural errors and define in legal terms why the case is flawed. We firmly believe that Monmouthshire County Council did not adhere to its own policies.

"Did the Welsh minister look at repealing the acts in a rational way? It may be that other issues could have affected the outcome. Did he consider the consequences of his decision? We shall be putting forward our responses to this for the retention of the Abergavenny Improvement Acts.

"The notion portrayed in the local press is that the game is over. This is wrong and the judge has declared that it's still game on. My battle is to win this in court in October."

Kim Waters spoke at the meeting on behalf of the town's Civic Society.

He stressed that it was not a single issue group and added, "We want the food and farming industry to be at the core of Abergavenny's attraction. We want a town that has a vision for the future that doesn't want to repeat the situation over the demolition of Tudor Street in the past.

"The town is changing and the Cattle Market is the core to this town's future. We want a vibrant working town, not a 'clone' town.

"Where is the evidence to say that the existing site cannot be redeveloped? As far as we are concerned our study shows that a cattle market can be retained on the current site," said Mr Waters who is outgoing chief executive of Abergavenny Food Festival.

"We believe the feasibility study is a viable option. Just imagine the town with a properly maintained cattle market. If we pull some of the things in the report together we can generate the nucleus of a new beginning.

"The only communication we have had with the local authority is via the front page of the Abergavenny Chronicle."

The Civic Society then turned its attention to County Councilor Bob Greenland's tweet on September 3 in which he said, "New market will be fit for 21st Century. Not with ancillary suppliers on site but two miles away in Raglan boosting that economy."

"It's just frightening that somebody could be so shortsighted. This campaign is now a marathon and we are continuing to keep running until we have nothing left. I am not convinced that there are any farming-related businesses near the proposed site at Bryngwyn. If the cattle market closes in Abergavenny then the town will become a suburb. A clone town."

Abergavenny Town Councillor Robin Harries suggested that a plan B should be adopted and mooted the idea of a supermarket being built on stilts with the cattle market underneath.

However the audience didn't agree with the councilor's suggestion.

Civic Society member Tony Konieczny pointed out, "Surely Monmouthshire County Council can't be thinking of starting work on the new market site because if the Judicial Review goes against them the county will be left with two livestock markets?"

Nigel Burton chairman of Abergavenny Food Festival pointed out, "With the new Aldi store about to open any day now is it worth re-considering the need for a new supermarket in town?

"I would like to suggest that the Monmouthshire authority should undertake a new retail review of Abergavenny."

This suggestion was supported by Ms Pritchard, who added, "The situation has changed in Abergavenny since the original review was carried out over the need for an additional supermarket. So far Monmouthshire County Council has not engaged with the public and they should have opened up a dialogue with interested parties."

Keith Spencer agricultural valuer with Abergavenny and Newport Market Auctioneers Ltd told the meeting that he had been involved with the markets in Monmouthshire since 1968 and that his views would not be appreciated by most of those attending the meeting.

He said, "My office is only ten yards away from the market and if I thought we could have a practical 21st Century market on the site, I would be the first to be in favour of it.

"A lot of views have been aired here tonight, but many of them would be difficult to implement.

"Many of KALM's suggestions are quite valid, but these would be too difficult to implement, especially on a small, four-acre site such as this.

"The issues here have not been properly analysed in depth and we have never been consulted by anybody from KALM.

"Nobody has asked us what is needed to make a viable cattle market work and the civic society has not even approached us for a discussion over what is or isn't viable in running a successful market.

"What is needed is a new site for a 21st century livestock market.

"Hereford and Brecon are among the many towns across the country who have relocated to out-of-town locations.

"I don't have any opinion over the future use of the cattle market site in Abergavenny just that I know that it's not fit for purpose as it is."

Joe England from the action group to save the Hill College from closure said that 'Abergavenny is being asset-stripped'.

He added, "With Coleg Gwent considering selling the educational centre for £5million and spending the proceeds on its other campus sites and Monmouthshire council using the proceeds from the sale of the cattle market site to build a new one in Raglan, it all amounts to funds being used outside of the town."

Farmers Arms licensee Fiona Yendoll suggested that the town needs to look at alternative places for a livestock market to go, but added, "I think you need something else other than a cattle market to bring people into town."

Produce market trader Jane Phillips asked, "If the cattle market goes and it is replaced by a supermarket would Abergavenny be in danger of losing its covered market like Brynmawr did with the arrival of Asda?"

John Hurst pointed out that KALM's judicial reviews can only challenge the legal process and said, "The outcome will effectively be the same as it is now as the court action can only investigate to see if the process was carried out properly."

Ms Long added, "We need a retail review and if it concludes that we need more retail space then there are a number of available land options available in the centre of town.

"The most important thing is to save the cattle market and make it suitable for the 21st century and the regeneration of the rest of the town will follow.

"We are a food town and if the supermarket replaces the cattle market Abergavenny will wither.

"We all know towns who have lost their heart because of clone town development."

Philip Bowyer concluded, "I don't feel the fight is over. We have to go on raising our voices. So shout and be heard and don't keep this campaign to yourself.

"We want a proper discussion over the future of this town. This quest could be very important in trying to block the Monmouthshire County Council machine.

"I'm convinced we can create some breathing space for us to engage with the authority.

"Just keep shouting – it's never over until it's over."