Proposals to shift Hereford livestock market out of town and on to a greenfield site have been driven home by Herefordshire Council’s planning committee, despite a strong case mustered by opponents.
After lengthy deliberations, the controversial proposals to site the market off the Roman Road at Stretton Sugwas were approved at last Friday’s meeting in the Shirehall.
For many, including five parish councils in the area, the decision was a bitter pill to swallow, but Hereford’s auctioneering chief later commented that it was an important decision not just for the farming industry, but for the county as a whole.
Critics of the proposed development included seasoned Hereford Labour Party campaigner, Bob Clay, who argued that the purpose-built complex had a footprint five times the size of Hereford Cathedral.
Others challenged the fact that these plans go against national guidelines for building on greenfield sites. Councillor Polly Andrews pointed out that more than 60 markets had closed all over the UK, and feared this was an indication for the future of Hereford market.
Claiming that areas of the city would be gridlocked on market days, Councillor Julie Woodward reckoned that up to 7,000 people using the Whitecross route into town could be hampered by market traffic, and there were concerns at areas such as Breinton and Holmer becoming a rat run for 4×4s and trailers.
But in positive terms the move was also seen to be paving the way for the city’s regeneration, and from a sustainable viewpoint, Hereford Market Auctioneers’ chairman Richard Hyde claimed the decision was vital for the county.
He discounted Rotherwas as a feasible option, describing Hereford as a traditional gateway to the Welsh uplands, with the bulk of trade coming from the north west and south west.
After 2001’s foot and mouth outbreak, farmers returned to market in “droves”, said Mr Hyde, and he believed the industry must be encouraged. “The days of cheap food are over, and farming is now a very important economic factor.” Trade at market was “buoyant” , and Hereford was noted as the largest store sheep market having sold 240,000 head of stock last year.
“The greatest complaint is about parking and congestion,” said Mr Hyde. “Farming is the most important industry in the world for food production and farmers need and deserve a modern facility in the 21st century.”
But a list of objections was raised by local parish council representatives, which included concerns about children walking to school.
There were worries about the safety of youngsters at nearby Stretton Sugwas school in view of increased traffic on market days, and one local vicar raised the question of children using a pelican crossing at Holmer Road.
There were further worries about narrow Tow Tree Lane being used as a cut through from Tillington to the Roman Road, and concerns about extra traffic using routes via the new bridge at Bridge Sollars.
The proposed market building was described as a “bare-faced block”, and Mr Clay questioned whether an alternative use could be found for it if the market ceased trading.
Owen Whittall from the National Farmers’ Union said the building would not be a “white elephant”, and countered calls for an on-line market facility.
“Farmers can not evaluate stock properly on-line,” he said.
Mr Hyde later told the Journal that suggestions for siting the market at Rotherwas were “absolute rubbish”.
He said: “I went through all the figures and can show that the main quantity of trade comes from the north west, the second from the south-west, third, from the north-east and fourth from the south-east.”
He continued: “This is not just important for farmers but for the county, and for the region, and for the food supply of the nation.
“The days of cheap food are over.”
