PLANS to move Abergavenny’s cattle market to Bryngwyn are being thrown into doubt once again by a rival proposal for a livestock market in Torfaen.

Monmouthshire Council wants to build a livestock market on 27 acres of land at Bryngwyn, replacing the current Abergavenny market when it closes.

But Jack Hanbury- Tenison, of Pontypool Park Estates, has submitted a planning application to Torfaen council for a market near Mamhilad, as an alternative to the Bryngwyn site.

Pontypool Park Estates has already locked horns with Monmouthshire Council after the authority used legal powers to try to buy woodland next to its Bryngwyn site which Pontypool Park Estates owns and for which it has shooting rights. That issue will be subject to an inquiry in January.

Mr Hanbury-Tension has also previously launched and withdrawn a judicial review against the Bryngwyn plans.

Mr Hanbury-Tenison said his recently submitted application for a market on land at Bryntovey, outside Mamhilad, off the A4042 near the Little Mill junction, would house 2,400 sheep, 800 cattle, and a small business centre.

Mr Hanbury-Tenison said the site was a central location within Gwent and easily accessible from the surrounding area.

He added: “We are trying to suggest a better alternative at Mamhilad.”

Campaigners against the Bryngwyn site welcomed the news.

Resident Stuart Willcock said it offered better facilities for farmers and was a better location for the South Wales region.

But Monmouthshire Council’s head of planning, George Ashworth, expressed concern.

Mr Ashworth, who said the Mamhilad plan was being considered by Torfaen with Monmouthshire as a consultee, said: “In my view the Mamhilad proposal will face significant difficulties in trying to overcome flooding issues from the Berthin Brook and traffic problems on the A472 through Usk and with its junction with the A4042 at Little Mill.

These are concerns that are likely to feature in Monmouthshire’s response to the application.”