THE FINAL sale at Abergavenny’s historic Livestock Market after more than 150 years will take place next month.

It marks the end of an era for the town, and a decade of negotiations over the site, when the last sale is held on December 11, following the official opening of the new £5million Livestock Market at Bryngwyn, near Raglan, which is due to take place on November 29.

The Abergavenny Livestock Market will close to make way for a new Morrisons supermarket as part of a scheme to regenerate the site.

In 2011, the council was granted permission to demolish the market to make way for a supermarket and library. The 25,000 sq ft store will include 20 percent non-foods, a café and kiosk and 269 space car park.

Last year, Welsh Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant lifted an ancient law which protects a livestock market in Abergavenny Town Centre. He said the decision to lift the Abergavenny Improvement Acts of 1854 and 1871 meant Monmouthshire council was no longer legally obliged to hold a market in the town centre and could relocate it to Bryngwyn once a new market was built there. Mr Sargeant said the ancient powers were no longer needed because there were more modern powers available to councils governing livestock markets.

A spokesman for Monmouthshire council said:"We know that there will be mixed feelings about this last sale in the old Market. But we also know that the farmers that use the Market now have a far better, fit for purpose Market facility that's far easier to access than the current site. And we know that the people of Abergavenny will benefit from the regeneration that will come from the redevelopment of the site and the financial contribution to our £80 million 21st Century Schools programme."