A £35,000 report into the retention of Abergavenny Cattle Market as a town centre facility has been produced by Abergavenny and district Civic Society.

The long-term future of the market has been debated for over 12 years with a conclusion being reached in 2001 that both Abergavenny and Monmouth cattle markets should be replaced with one livestock market at a central location.

The report states that the cattle market site "could be an asset that could be adapted as a multifunction venue with food at the heart of both the town and county's tourist revenue generation strategy being developed by Monmouthshire County Council."

The report has been produced by civil engineering consultants Quad Consulting who conclude that, for an expenditure of £2.25 million, a new auction ring and associated development could be built that complies with all current requirements.

The report recommends demolishing the existing café and building a new facility to serve livestock traders, and visitors, which " will be encouraged to promote good value local farm produce as it has the potential to open more frequently and diversification will enable it to be more profitable".

The report also recommends the demolition of many structures around the site and the restoration of the former stables and abattoir building to provide retail and office space. The report further suggests that, by taking these measures, it would create the opportunity for a new library on the site of the existing retail units.

The consultants have suggested developing the Lion Street frontage to link with the refurbished indoor market, Market Street and the redeveloped Brewery Yard.

The consultants suggest that by redesigning the site an area could be available for use on non-market days as a pay and display car park.

The consultants consider that "as the Tuesday and Friday markets are quiet, co-ordinated and cooperative market management on these market days can be combined to improve the efficiency of market trading and free up the market space for an additional day of alternative commercial usage."

The consultants believe that a revitalised site would offer corporate opportunities with the introduction of a local business fair and other events adding, "Diversification of the refurbished site will make it available at weekends for events such as car boot sales on Sundays, vintage car rallies, machinery sales, rare breed events, and fur and feather events."

The consultants suggest that, with an appropriately refurbished site "there is a unique opportunity to offer school visits to a working livestock market and to show urban students the processes that go into delivering their burgers".

The public would also be encouraged into the market where they should find information about the process of trading livestock, the history of the site, different livestock breeds and future events. The introduction of a top dairy sale at the venue would be an added advantage.

The society concludes that it wants to engage with the authority "to ensure whatever change will happen is thoroughly researched, consulted, understood and backed by evidence and is part of a 'whole systems' approach to the town."

A council spokesman said, "The Civic Society has clearly invested considerable time and money in producing their report. Their desire to see the town prosper is unquestionable and on that we are united. We have had a look at the report and struggle to see that the proposal:

•Does anything to avoid an out of town superstore

•Has any chance of being self financing

·•Addresses the traffic management issues of a more intensively developed site (which is still too small) in the centre of a market town.

"Your readers should be clear that the council has a firm policy position of wishing to see the current livestock market site re-developed for an in-town superstore. To further this policy it is well known that Morrisons are acquiring the site. The council is looking to build a new livestock market to continue its support for the rural community on land that it owns just outside Raglan and that it has planning permission for. In addition we are committed to providing a new library in addition to the Brewery Yard redevelopment scheme that the town is already benefiting from.

"The council's position has been developed over a number of years and is firm. We believe it will deliver fantastic benefits for the town and that after so many years of talking, we need to get on and do it.

"The scheme is an affordable proposal. It will give an investment shot in the arm to the town at a time when the local economy needs support and will make a significant contribution to the regeneration of Abergavenny and its surrounding area".