Campaigners can mount legal challenges over Abergavenny cattle market (From South Wales Argus)

Campaigners can mount legal challenges over Abergavenny cattle market

2:30pm Saturday 4th August 2012 in News By Kath Skellon

LEGAL CHALLENGE: : The cattle market site in Abergavenny

AN Abergavenny group campaigning to keep the historic livestock market in the town has won the right to have two legal challenges heard in the High Court in Cardiff in October.

Solicitors acting for Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market (KALM) initiated legal proceedings against Monmouthshire council in January to get planning permission for a Morrisons supermarket on the Livestock Market site, quashed. KALM is challenging the process by which Morrisons was granted permission.

Last year, Monmouthshire council approved the demolition of the livestock market to make way for an £11million Morrisons supermarket and library. The 25,000sq foot store will include 20% non-foods, a cafe and kiosk and 269 space car park.

KALM wants the historic market to be refurbished and plans to re-locate it to Bryngwyn, near Raglan, halted.

The group is also challenging Welsh Minister Carl Sargeant's decision to repeal ancient acts that mean the council is obliged to hold a livestock market in the town.

KALM say the Welsh Government failed to demand evidence from the council to justify lifting the acts.

Member, Barry Greenwood said: "Whatever the final outcome, the High Court in Cardiff has decided there are sufficient grounds to mount legal challenges into their decisions."

The council's deputy leader, councillor Bob Greenland, said: "The council is disappointed that having first decided there was not arguable case against the Minister's decision to repeal the obsolete Abergavenny Improvement Acts this view was changed by the Court on appeal from KALM. Cllr Greenland said the council remains committed to providing a state-of-the-art livestock market in Raglan.