United Kingdom-Cattle market to move.

UNITED KINGDOM-CATTLE MARKET TO MOVE.

THE end of an era could be in sight for Darlington cattle market, which has been granted permission to move to an outof- town site.

Despite objections by villagers and the recommendations of planning officers, Darlington Borough Council planning committee voted six to four to approve the application by Darlington Farmers’ Auction Market.

It means the cattle market in Clifton Road – established in the years when farmers needed easy access to rail transport – has permission to transfer its operation to a 50-hectare market and business park at Humbleton Farm, off the A68.

It will cost £16m and developers say it will create 300 jobs.

The planning committee rejected officers’ recommendations that the plans should be refused.

Councillors said they believed the urgent need to move the mart outweighed the concern and reservations of the officers.

Though approved, the plans could still be called in by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government as the site is outside borough development limits.

A decision on development of a site in Neasham Road was deferred for more information.

Mart officials own the land and hope to use it to fund the move to Humbleton Farm.

The mart development plan attracted 100 objections on the grounds that it would ruin a rural area.

The plan includes a 12-plot business park, almost as large as the cattle mart, as well as office and conference space and a biogas plant.

Coun Norman Welch, representing Archdeacon Newton Parish Council, referred to the town’s 25,000-seater edge-oftown football stadium, adding: "The committee risks a repetition of the ill-conceived, illsited, ill-fated football project which is a headache for Darlington.

If this goes ahead, it will create another headache."

Coun Brian Jones, for Coatham Mundeville Parish Meeting, said the development was simply too big.

Coun Cyndi Hughes, speaking for residents of the Clifton Road area, said the plans should be approved as the current mart made life intolerable for those living nearby.

Coun David Lyonette said that, for as long as he could remember, the council had wanted the mart to move and, over the years, 14 new locations had been found and discarded. He said a rural location was entirely appropriate for a cattle market.

"I do believe honestly this committee should make a statement," he said.

Plans for developing 160 houses at the cattle martowned site opposite the football club in Neasham Road will be debated at a later stage.