A TEN-year campaign to build a supermarket in Abergavenny is over after Monmouthshire Council agreed to the £11 million project which will see the demolition of the cattle market to make way for Morrisons.

Despite eleventh-hour pleas from local campaigners and mixed opinion among councillors, the committee voted in favour of the scheme, which will create 280 jobs.

The 25,000 sq ft store will include 20 per cent nonfood goods, a café and kiosk, parking for 269 cars with charging in line with other town centre car parks, public artwork, and is designed specifically for the town.

The scheme includes improvements such as new bus stops, pedestrian crossings and a landscaped pedestrian route linking Brewery Yard to Bailey Park.

At the meeting, David Haswell, on behalf of several town groups, raised concerns surrounding the design and style of the scheme.

Barry Greenwood, of campaign group KALM (Keep A b e r g av e n n y Livestock Market Open) warned it could destroy the town’s independent shops, but Morrisons planning consultant, Chris Creighton, argued that it would attract new customers.

Cllr Douglas Edwards said traffic concerns need to be resolved and the loss of the slaughterhouses would be a ‘tragic mistake’.

Cllr David Dovey felt it will encourage more people to shop in the town.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Greenwood called the decision a “travesty”.

He said: “There was no debate, argument or serious discussion.”

Head of planning George Ashworth said a new cattle market must be in place before the existing one is closed.

Controversy all along

MORRISONS was selected after a multi-million-pound deal with the developer, Henry Boot Ltd, and rival Asda collapsed in 2009.

The controversial scheme was plagued with criticism since 2004, when Henry Boot and Asda were named as the preferred choices for the site. Major delays were caused by protests about the proposals and a planning application was refused in 2007.

An updated scheme was then approved but Henry Boot failed to submit a planning application in time.