Ancient law lifted for Abergavenny supermarket scheme
1:10pm Saturday 9th June 2012 in Gwent news 
AN ANCIENT law which protects a livestock market in Abergavenny town centre has been lifted, clearing the way for Morrisons to build a supermarket in the town.
Welsh local government minister Carl Sargeant announced his decision to lift the Abergavenny Improvement Acts of 1854 to 1871 in January after consultating with market users and the town council. The Welsh Government said the order , which has now come into force, means Monmouthshire council is no longer legally obliged to hold a market in the town centre and can relocate it to Bryngwyn in Raglan, once a new market is built there.
Mr Sargeant said the ancient powers were no longer needed because there are more modern powers available to councils governing livestock markets.
Lawyers acting for local campaign group Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market (KALM), which is calling for the historic market to remain, are challenging the Ministers decision to repeal the Abergavenny Acts. The group has also launched a second judicial review challenging the council's granting of planning permission to Morrisons to build a supermarket on the site.
The site has been surrounded by controversy for almost a decade.
In 2009 an £11 million scheme to redevelop the site with developer Henry Boot collapsed. The council blamed the collapse of the scheme, which would have brought Asda to the town, on the economic downturn.
In June last year the council granted planning permission to demolish the cattle market to make way for a 25,000-square-foot Morrisons supermarket and library.
Source: www.southwalesargus.co.uk
Comment now! Register or sign in below.
Or