Date: 20th October 2011
Carl Sargeant AM
Minister for Local Government & Communities
Welsh Government
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF99 1NA
Dear Carl
Re: Abergavenny Improvement Acts 1854-1871
I write with regard to the current consultation on the repeal of the relevant provisions within the Abergavenny Improvement Acts. As you know, Monmouthshire County Council is proposing to deliver a new livestock market at Bryngwyn and regenerate Abergavenny by building a new food store on the current market site.
In summary, the issue is this:
Abergavenny cattle market barely complies with EU animal welfare regulations and would need a large cash injection if it is to remain in its current place - money which neither the local authority nor anyone else has got. Monmouthshire County Council therefore wishes to sell the land to a developer who would put a supermarket on the site. This would raise a substantial sum of money, with enough left over for further regeneration of the town after a new cattle market is paid for.
Reaction around the town and the farming community is mixed. Residents near the site of the proposed new market at Bryngwyn are opposed to it being built in that location. I understand the reasons why and I personally think there is a wider argument here for automatically calling in any planning decisions made by local authorities in which they have a vested interest. Unfortunately, that is not currently the way in which planning law works.
Many Abergavenny residents like the idea of having a cattle market in the town and are not happy about the idea of more food stores. Others are happy with supermarkets in principle but favour one supermarket over another. Some believe they are supporting farmers who wish to remain in Abergavenny and are unaware that many farmers actually want to have a new market.
Although I cannot claim to have carried out an accurate poll, I am regularly in touch with the farming unions and with individual farmers and I would say the overwhelming majority support the idea of a new market. However, some have expressed concern about repealing the Abergavenny Improvement Acts because they are worried that if the Act is amended too quickly then the Council may sell the market site before building a new one.
Of the non-farmers who have expressed an opinion, the overwhelming majority are against any change whatsoever. That said, I have spoken to thousands of people in Abergavenny at various elections and meetings and would say the overall majority have no strong feelings about the issue either way.
If a supermarket is not built in Abergavenny, the relatively low amount of supermarket floor space currently in the town centre would make it more likely that an application for an out of town supermarket would succeed. Almost everyone agrees this would be a bad idea. It is also worth recognising the important additional jobs that will be created by a new food store (well over 200). I understand these would be ring fenced to local people through an agreement with the supermarket. Recognising the proximity of the site to the Communities First area in north Abergavenny, the additional jobs would be massively welcomed.
As you can see, this is a very complex situation and I have attempted to summarise years of debate into a simple format. My own view is that the time has come to make a decision and move forward. The proposal to redevelop the cattle market site will release a great deal of money which can benefit residents in Monmouthshire and protect Abergavenny from another out of town store. The farming community would also benefit from a new market.
I would therefore like to add my full support to Monmouthshire County Council’s plans.
Yours sincerely
David T C Davies MP