Funeral procession as last livestock market is held

By Jen Green

A COFFIN representing the death of Tenbury's livestock market will be carried through the town's streets today (Thursday), to mark the passing of an era and the final livestock sale.

The mock funeral procession has been instigated by Andrew Pitt, who farms at Thornbury, near Bromyard, in protest at auctioneers Brightwells' sale of the cattle market.

It will comprise buyers, seller, farmers and agricultural workers who have used the market place over the years.

They are due to leave Bromyard Road at 12.30pm for the sombre march to the auction yard.

Mr Pitt described it as a sad day for the Tenbury Wells community.

"If we had been aware of the sale we could have set up a co-operative to buy and run it, but we were kept in the dark until the deal was done," he claimed.

"This a sad day for the community, particularly the traders, sellers and buyers.They eat, drink and shop in town on sale days and businesses will feel the effects.

"The loss of the site threatens not only their livelihood but ours as well and is also devastating for livestock farmers in the area.

"Although we are angry and shocked at Brightwells' decision, we will try not to cause too much traffic congestion but we are determined to make our feelings known." Brightwells managing director Richard Granger, denied that the sale was carried out in secret.

"For anyone to allege they were not aware of the sale comes as a big surprise to us," he said.

"Over the past eight years there have been three planning consultations and applications for the site.

"They must have had their heads buried in the sand because the Advertiser has featured many stories on this subject and no one offered to buy it then.

"As regards the price, no one in business discloses this information, if a co-operative or anyone else wanted to buy it we would have been open to offers.

"The closure of these markets is happening all over the country, it is no longer economically viable and the decision to sell was made on those grounds."

The chairwoman of Tenbury Chamber of Trade, Diann Dowell, commented: "Closing down anything that brings buyers into Tenbury is not good for business.

"The closure of the livestock market is certain to have a detrimental affect particularly on Thursdays."

l Sales not thing of the past: Page 3.