Town market moves to £13m new home

A livestock market in Powys dubbed one of the largest in Europe has moved to a multi million-pound new home.

The development in Welshpool, built on 16 acres at a cost of £13 million, is a mile away from its original base in Mill Lane. It boasts 1,044 sheep and 200 cattle pens. The original livestock market site is to be transformed into a shopping development, to include supermarket giant Tesco, a petrol station and some shops.

The combined costs of constructing this and relocating the market have been put at £27.5million.

Dozens of people attended the opening ceremony at Buttington Cross in Welshpool yesterday with many marking it as an "historic moment."

Farmer Arwel Rees, from Llanfair Caereinion, said it would help safeguard the future of the rural way of life in Welshpool.

He said: "This is a very exciting time for Welshpool and will certainly help put the town on the map.

"I am very sad to see the old market go because I have been going there for many years but the new market will be great and I'm looking forward to see what it has to offer."

The market, which has been built by local developer J Ross Developments, part of the Pickstock Group in Oswestry, was officially opened by Chris Dodds, the executive secretary of the Livestock Auctioneers' Association.

He said: "I'm very pleased to be here in Welshpool today opening this great market because it will be an investment to the livestock industry and the rural way of life.

"Welshpool's one-day livestock market is one of the biggest in Europe and it is a crucial link in creating a sustainable production chain for agriculture.

"The development is at the heart of regeneration in the area and will create thousands of jobs."

Spencer Cooper, a director of J Ross Developments, said he was pleased to have been involved in launching one of the largest livestock markets in Europe. Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan, who also farms in Newtown, said he was pleased to have been at the opening ceremony.

Ann Holloway, mayor of Welshpool, said it was an historic time for Welshpool.

She said: "This will mark an end of an era and a beginning of a new one for Welshpool and will certainly be more profitable for the town."