New houses earmarked for mart site

TOW LAW auction mart in Co Durham could close if a local building firm is granted planning permission for a housing development.

Mart director Harry Vickers said it was not certain when the planners would give their decision to developer Alexander Homes, of Sedgefield, which has applied to build 67 new homes on the site.

family

“If planning permission is turned down, the mart will carry on,” said Mr Vickers. “My family has run the auction for more than 120 years, and it would be a sad day if trading stopped.

 However, we have to move on, and this will be a commercial decision.” Sales at Tow Law, which is leased to Hexham and Northern Marts, have dwindled in recent years, he added.

Producers who attended the weekly prime sheep sales and seasonal breeding cattle and sheep sales would not be too inconvenienced if the mart closed because Hexham auction was only a 30-minute journey away, said Mr Vickers.