Chippenham mart on the move

CHIPPENHAM LIVESTOCK market is to move to a new site near Bristol next month, operator Premier Livestock Auctions announced this week.

The change follows an sudden move by North Wilts District Council to terminate the mart‘s lease and redevelop the 1950s-built town centre site.

The mart will move to the Bristol Sales Centre near the M4/M5 motorway interchange, sharing the site with Cumbria auctioneer Harrison & Hetherington‘s pedigree fixtures and Dreweatt Neate’s machinery sales.

Peter Kingwill, markets director at Premier Livestock and auctioneer at Frome and Chippenham, said: “The provision of a thriving, quality weekly market serving farmers is at the heart of this region’s rural economy.

“We are confident the enhanced facilities at the Bristol Sales Centre will bring immediate benefits to farmers and give us room for future expansion as the livestock market grows.”

The future of Hailsham market in East Sussex remains in the balance and planners are awaiting plans for a reduced operation on the same site.

And the deadline has now passed for contract tenders to develop the new Shrewsbury market, expected to be built this year.

Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council has sold the present market site to Tesco, and some of the funds released will be used to construct the new mart close to the A49/A53 junction at Battlefield.

Halls‘ director David Giles said that subject to council approval at a meeting next Monday, work could begin on the new site this year, helping to assure the market‘s future.