THE main objector to the local authority's replacement of Abergavenny cattle market at Bryngwyn has lodged his own planning application for a livestock market on land at Mamhilad.

Last year Jack Hanbury-Tenison of Pontypool Estates applied for a judicial review into plans to build a market at High House Farm in the village, which Monmouthshire County Council acquired in 2006, objecting to the proposals on five different grounds.

However the High Court rejected four of the points put forward and the review was withdrawn by Mr Hanbury-Tenison.

In August this year Monmouthshire County Council applied for a Compulsory Purchase Order to acquire land, owned by Mr Hanbury-Tenison, which is adjacent to the proposed cattle market site at Bryngwyn, as this land has a covenant on it giving the owner shooting rights that have been deemed detrimental to the safe running of the cattle market.

Mr Hanbury-Tenison told the Abergavenny Chronicle that he has been consulting for more than a year on plans to create alternative livestock market which would be located on land at Mamhilad just off the A4042 trunk road.

He said: "My main objective is to get planning permission on the land and then the finer details like which company is to run the market operation can be developed and explored.

"But in principle it's very similar to the current Abergavenny cattle market and the proposed livestock market at Bryngwyn, with it being a five hectare site. This would then give a capacity of handling 2,500 sheep and 800 cattle.

"My proposals also allow for a small business centre to be built on the site that could be used by interested parties. These plans for a livestock market have been widely known by those working in the industry and were formally registered with Torfaen County Borough Council at the beginning of the month.

"It's too soon to have had any formal feedback, but initial signs are quite promising."

Residents of Little Mill, who live near the site have been sent a notification letter outlining Mr Hanbury-Tenison intentions.

A spokeswoman for Torfaen Council confirmed that a planning application for a livestock market had been received by the authority on December 2, but added that as yet there were no detailed plans available.

Barry Greenwood, a member of the Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market campaign group, which has also lodged a legal challenge on the Bryngwyn scheme over four separate issues connected with the proposed sale of the town centre site, has suggested that having two markets so close together would not be commercially viable for either.

He added: "This application further muddies the waters for the Monmouthshire authority whose plans to move the market are now in a mess."

Lyndon Trumper, a director of Abergavenny and Newport Market Auctioneers Ltd said that the procedure to close the Abergavenny cattle market site and reopen at Bryngwyn with a new livestock market suitable for the 21st Century was now at a 'critical point'.

He added: "We've been aware for sometime now that plans for a new livestock market towards Pontypool are being devised.

"The timing of this application is somewhat questionable when you consider that the Bryngwyn site has been known about for a long time.

"A lot of work and effort has gone into creating a market that meets the needs of improving the agricultural industry in this region.

"We are fully committed to working with Monmouthshire County Council to see a replacement market for both Abergavenny and Monmouth finally being opened in Bryngwyn.

"At present everything connected with the seamless transition of the move is finely balanced with work to repeal the Abergavenny Improvement Act ongoing and nearing completion and in January we await the outcome of the Compulsory Purchase Order on Mr Hanbury-Tenison's land so that the Bryngwyn site can then be developed as a livestock market."

Monmouthshire's Head of Planning George Ashworth said: "The proposed livestock market at Mamhilad is being considered by Torfaen County Borough Council, with Monmouthshire County Council as a consultee. 

"It has been put forward as an alternative to the Monmouthshire proposal at Bryngwyn, which is the subject of an inquiry in January into the compulsory purchase of shooting rights. 

"In my view, the Mamhilad proposal will face significant difficulties in trying to overcome flooding issues from the Berthin Brook and traffic problems on the A472 through Usk and with its junction with the A4042. at Little Mill. 

"These are concerns that are likely to feature in Monmouthshire's response to the Mamhilad application."

Abergavenny Development Forum's David Haswell added: "The new application as far as it goes has good access from the A4042 trunk road and that it would not require public funding from the public purse and poses no long term risk to the local taxpayer.

"I can see that these proposals are likely to be favoured over Monmouthshire's unsupported, high risk centre at Bryngwyn.

"However in removing a key asset to the town, both proposals will do nothing for Abergavenny.

"The forum has always argued that the cattle market should not be allowed 'to find its own future' and we believe insufficient thought has been given to the existing site and local attractions, including the Westgate yard site at Llanfoist, for which Monmouthshire granted planning approval fro a livestock market in 2005.

"From the outset the mistake has always been to assume that the only location for a new food store is the livestock markets site.

"In recent months there has been much discussion about combining the bus station site with the Mill Steel land in creating an alternative site for a food store.

"If the Welsh Government decides not to repeal the Abergavenny Improvement Acts then Monmouthshire County Council would be obliged to search for local options and the forum would welcome that."