TODAY marks the end of an era for farming in Monmouthshire as the final sale at Abergavenny’s historic Livestock Market takes place after more than 150 years.

The closure follows a decade of negotiations over the site and last month’s official opening of the new £5million Livestock Market at Bryngwyn, near Raglan.

The Abergavenny Livestock Market, which Monmouthshire say is dated and cannot provide modern animal welfare and accessibility, will close to make way for a new Morrisons supermarket as part of a scheme to regenerate the site.

In 2011, the council was granted permission for the multi-million pound scheme which will see a 25,000 sq foot Morrisons, which includes a small café, 289 parking spaces and a library built on the site.

Last year, Welsh Local Government minister Carl Sargeant lifted an ancient law which protects a livestock market in Abergavenny town centre.

He said the decision to lift the Abergavenny Improvement Acts of 1854 and 1871 meant Monmouthshire council was no longer legally obliged to hold a market in the town centre and could relocate it to Bryngwyn once a new market was built there.

Mr Sargeant said the ancient powers were no longer needed because there were more modern powers available to councils governing livestock markets.

The action group Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market Open (KALM) fought a long campaign to keep the market in the town.