Council approves Louth Cattle Market refurbishment

East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) has officially agreed to refurbish Louth Cattle Market in Lincolnshire after local residents voted to save it.

At a full council meeting on Wednesday 11 October, the council said it would remove the market from sale and work up a refurbishment scheme for the site, following the recommendation of its executive board last month.

A public consultation found that 84% of 4,078 locals polled want the council to refurbish the site, at a cost of £700,000, over the other options of re-siting the market or closing it.

See also: Store cattle trade ‘fantastic’ despite healthy numbers

Other uses

But the council stressed that the facility must be used more than one day a week, either as a livestock market or for other purposes.

ELDC had been progressing a redevelopment opportunity for the site, located close to the town centre, for a number of years on the basis that it is used only on Thursdays.

Councillor Adam Grist, portfolio holder for rural economy and market towns, said: “The consultation response very clearly shows the strong feeling of the community towards the livestock market and tonight the council has listened to that view in making its decision. It will now bring forward a scheme to make the necessary improvements to the facility so it can operate into the future.”

He added: “I am very clear, though – the site is large and still significantly underused and I’m looking forward to having a positive discussion with the market auctioneers on their plans to increase the site’s usage.”