Abergavenny catttle market campaigners appeal after High Court loss (From Free Press Series)

Abergavenny catttle market campaigners appeal after High Court loss

2:50pm Wednesday 14th November 2012 in News

AN ABERGAVENNY group campaigning to save the town’s historic livestock market has lodged an appeal after losing a High Court battle.

Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market (KALM) founder Jennifer Long is disappointed that Mrs Justice Nicola Davies dismissed two judicial reviews at the High Court of Justice in London last week.

The review challenged Monmouthshire Council’s planning process after it granted permission to demolish the 149-yearold livestock market to make way for an £11million Morrisons supermarket and library and move the market to Raglan.

A second review challenged local government minister Carl Sargeant’s decision to repeal ancient acts that mean Monmouthshire Council is obliged to hold a livestock market in the town.

The council, which asked for the legislation to be repealed, granted planning permission in 2011. A new market is being built in Raglan but campaigners argue that the environmental risks, economic impact and the loss of historic buildings were not taken into account.

In her judgment, Mrs Justice Nicola Davies rejected the arguments put forward by KALM and concluded the council did not act unlawfully. She said the minister’s finding that the acts are ‘obsolete’ is neither irrational nor unreasonable and he considered the correct legal consequences.

Mrs Long said: “The council decided to close the market, behind closed doors. It presented farmers with an ultimatum and the town with a done deal.”

Deputy leader Councillor Bob Greenland said: “Selling the site to Morrisons gives local people the chance to shop here rather than travel to other centres.”