MONMOUTHSHIRE will lose trade if the Abergavenny livestock market closes in September before a replacement is built, farmers are warning. Today Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet was due to consider a report on the replacement market in a bid to speed up the project and reduce the £3million cost.

The council has issued a compulsory purchase order for the cattle market site, which has been bought by the Henry Boot development company who plan to build an Asda supermarket, two retail shops, flats, a cinema and library. The order has to be approved by the Assembly, but has been issued because Abergavenny Market Auctioneers Ltd (AMAL) own a long lease on the site, which is in council ownership.

Farmers at yesterday's market in Abergavenny were dismayed to hear the facility is due to close at the end of September. Llanover farmer Charlotte Barter, selling lambs, said: "We were hoping the new market will be open and preferably at Llanfoist. Abergavenny is a market town and people expect it to be and we want to keep it unique."

Plans for a replacement cattle market on the Westgate Business Park at Llanfoist have already been approved, but discussions are still being held over a possible site in Raglan. Derek Roberts of Greenmeadow Farm, Mamhilad, has always used Abergavenny market for selling his sheep and cattle. He said when Abergavenny market closes there is no real alternative for local farmers.

Retired farmer John Williams, 80, who now lives in Penypound, Abergavenny is still a regular visitor to the market. He said: "Sometimes the cattle sales at Abergavenny are the biggest in Wales, and they have tremendous autumn sheep sales as well.

"All the income the market generates will go out of Monmouthshire if it closes before a new one opens."