Plans to refurbish Louth Livestock Market approved

East Lindsey District Council has agreed to refurbish Louth cattle market (Stock photo)
East Lindsey District Council has agreed to refurbish Louth cattle market (Stock photo)

Plans to refurbish Louth Livestock Market have been approved thanks to the local efforts of the farming community to save it.

As a result, East Lindsey District Council will now withdraw from the sale of the market and work up a refurbishment scheme for the site.

The livestock market was saved following a council vote last night (11 October).

East Lindsey District Council's executive board on the 27 September to discuss the future of the market, Lincolnshire's only cattle market and a historic landmark with centuries of history.

The council overlooked a proposal to close the livestock market in favour of a plan to spend around £700,000 to give it a refurbishment.

But it was only since last night that the council approved the plans for good. Almost 3,500 people, 84% of consultation responses, backed proposals to keep the market at its current location and refurbish it.

Over recent months, local farmers have rallied to try to save the historic local landmark, and the council has ran a lengthy consultation period with East Lindsey residents over its future.

A statement published on the ELDC website said: "We agreed on October 11 to refurbish the livestock market facility in Louth and withdraw from the sale of the site.

"Over the coming months we will be working up our plans for refurbishment in discussion with the Louth Market auctioneers.

"We will also be looking to discuss use of the facility and the wider site with the auctioneers to understand what opportunities there are to put the site to use on a more regular basis for the benefit of Louth and the wider district."

The authority will look at how the site can be utilised on non-market days.