SUPERMARKET giant Morrisons may have been granted planning permission to develop the cattle market in Abergavenny - but construction is unlikely to begin for at least a year according to the local authority.

Head of planning at Monmouthsire County Council George Ashworth told the Chronicle that a number of other related issues now need to be resolved before the development can begin.

He said, "Now that planning permission has been granted we can prove to the Welsh Assembly Government that under the terms of the 1854 Abergavenny Improvement Act and its subsequent ammendments we can now prove with documented evidence that the site is no longer wanted for the purpose for which it was acquired and therefore the Act has sufficient evidence for it to be repealed.

"The time scale of this is not an exact science, but it could be at least six months before the Act can be repealed.

"Secondly, we would require a seamless transition for a new livestock market to be built at Bryngwyn, or elsewhere if another suitable site becomes available, and for the market auctioneers to be operational at the new site before the cattle market site in Abergavenny can be developed.

"Aside from the normal regulations for over ground works that need to be observed before a development can start we need to complete a 106 Agreement that defines in detail how the land is used and any financial obligations that need to be met before building work and ground clearance can begin."

Speaking on behalf of Morrisons, development executive Mark Thompson said, "We are delighted with the outcome of last week's planning committee meeting, and look forward to delivering our new Abergavenny store, in line with the planning consent, as soon as possible.

"The consented scheme represents almost two years work for our design team. The scheme has been designed specifically for Abergavenny - at a size able to compete with large out-of-town supermarkets, but also of an appropriate size for the site and for the population of Abergavenny and its catchment area.

"As stated at the planning committee meeting,  we have quite rightly been challenged at every stage of the design process by not only planning officers, but also by the Design Commission for Wales, Abergavenny Town Council, local amenity groups, and of course by individuals who all want the best for Abergavenny.

"Their comments led to a number of important changes being made to the scheme during the planning process and we are confident that the store, when it opens, will prove to be a huge asset to Abergavenny."

However members of Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market campaign group who attended the meeting were very disappointed when the committee approved the Morrisons application,

Barry Greenwood said, "The committee ignored all the advice, evidence and assistance provided by a number of town groups over the last two years. What was particularly disheartening was not so much the expected vote for Morrisons, but the abysmally low standard of the debate.

"With the honourable exception of Councillor Doug Edwards, there was almost no attempt by members of the committee to engage with the wider issues, nor to deal with the mass of material provided to them by town groups.

"Councillor James George tried to get the coffee shop removed, but even that small concession was voted out.

There was no engagement with, or debate about, any of the arguments and evidence provided by KALM and other town groups, which is very telling.

"It was clear that most councillors had made up their minds well before the meeting and were just going through the motions of having a debate."

David Haswell speaking on behalf of Abergavenny Development Forum said he was also unhappy with the way in which the meeting was conducted. He added, "It was clear from the debate that, with the exception of one or two local members, nobody was interested in important matters of principle or detail.

"Our support for Morrisons as developer was conditional on the notion of a quality design and compliance with planning guidance and MCC's own policies.

"In the end, members have agreed a scheme which offers none of these," said Mr Haswell.

"Members of the planning committee had indicated that they were likely to approve the scheme, but with strong conditions.

"Accordingly, town groups offered clear evidence to members in advance of the meeting to support the imposition of reasonable and obvious conditions on design.

"But members failed utterly to debate any of these matters, wasting a unique opportunity to negotiate a development that would contribute positively to our historic town."

The same meeting also angered members of Abergavenny Civic Society with Tony Konieczny, the society's vice chairman adding: "It is of great concern to us that the planning committee have overruled the town's groups' considered views on the design of this building.

"Morrisons obviously felt that Abergavenny deserved no better than the simplest of designs, a square box in the middle of a large car park.

"Surely the town should be presented with a high quality building, whether a traditional or modern design.

"By voting to approve Morrisons' design proposal, the authority is ignoring good evidence to show that placing an 'out of town' design supermarket in an enclosed town does not lead to regeneration."

The Civic Society also questioned why after inviting consultation on the design and impact of a planning development if the consensus outcomes of the consultation are subsequently brushed aside?

The society believes that Abergavenny deserves a rigorous and robust regeneration programme to ensure the continuing development and prosperity of the town and the wellbeing of its citizens.

Mr Konieczny added: "The Morrisons application provided an ideal opportunity to regenerate and invigorate the town centre through a well designed and imaginative building with integrated pedestrian access to the town centre.

"Monmouthshire's planning committee have given us what they think we deserve, a nail in the coffin."