United Kingdom-Fight to save cattle market.

UNITED KINGDOM-SAVING HAILSHAM’S historic livestock market must be done to protect the local farming community and the town’s economy.

That’s the view of a report which will be presented to next month’s appeal by supermarket firm Aldi, which is hoping to overturn a decision preventing it from building a store on the market site.

working in livestock markets, compiled the report on the benefits of the cattle market and the impact of its potential loss.

He said Hailsham, which was guaranteed a market by Royal Charter in 1252, is one of only two remaining commercial livestock markets in the south east, after a raft of closures over the last 30 years.

Mr Hall added the market brought a number of benefits to the local agricultural industry.

He said, "The livestock market provides a facility for open market sales of all types of agricultural livestock which, in turn, benefits and helps protect open countryside and nature conservation in the local agricultural area.

"It is the only market in Sussex and its location reduces the need for farmers and livestock to travel further distances."

The report admitted fewer numbers of fattened animals were sold to butchers via the livestock market system but said there was still an ’essential need’ for a market trading place.

It said, "Without such a facility, farmers in this locality would find it more difficult to trade and obtain the best sale prices possible.

This is demonstrated by the very large number of letters received by members of the local farming community expressing their need for a market to remain in Hailsham.

"It is an important part of the agricultural industry in the locality that a livestock market remains in the area to sell fattened animals to those remaining local butchers in the Hailsham area.

"Should the cattle market at Hailsham close, the additional cost of transporting animals both in time, labour and fuel, would add further unnecessary costs to the livestock producer. In addition, there is the distress of additional transportation imposed upon animals and the detrimental effect it has on their condition."

Mr Hall also highlighted the social interaction between farmers — and their contribution to the town centre economy — as key reasons for why the market should be retained.

He said, "The weekly visit to the market offers the opportunity for farmers to vary the working week and discuss current issues that affect their own business. The social interaction that comes on market day is part of the history, culture and atmosphere of market towns.

"The visit to the market in a town also offers the opportunity to attend to other essential matters such as business with banks and the weekly shopping at the supermarket, Post Office and other stores. The loss of the market from within the town would affect the trading vitality and viability of the town centre.

"The linked trips of using the market, as well as visiting other shops and facilities, provides a sense of community and is part of the way of life of Hailsham."

Mr Hall said the viability of Hailsham’s cattle market had been affected by ’continual speculation’ about a replacement near the Diplocks roundabout.

He said, "This in turn has led to a disincentive to invest and promote the current site to its full potential.

"However, markets can remain vibrant in town centre locations given the appropriate investment and enthusiasm by all concerned.

"Any planning proposal for a new relocated livestock market in the Hailsham area could take a lengthy time period to be considered. Until such a time that planning permission is granted and a new livestock market is constructed the existing livestock market should remain open for trading."

Aldi’s appeal against the decision to refuse it permission for a store on the market site will be heard at a public inquiry beginning on February 11.