Monmouthshire County Council has welcomed the news that the 'Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market' group (KALM) has dropped their legal opposition to the repeal of the Abergavenny Acts.

Through her legal team Jennifer Long, a founder of KALM, informed the Court of Appeal last week that with her Judicial Review having failed she would not be pursuing her appeal against the repeal of the Acts.

That news, together with the decision of Jack Hanbury-Tennison that he will no longer oppose the Inspector's decision to uphold the compulsory purchase of shooting rights over a small portion of the council-owned site for the replacement market, removes all legal hurdles – allowing the council to move forward with the construction of the market at Bryngwn.

The council is also pleased to announce that the contract to build the market has been let to Morgan Sidnall, a Glamorgan-based company. It is hoped they will begin work in March once the current work on the adjacent highway has been completed.

Construction of the market is due to be completed in the late summer with the transfer from Abergavenny taking place shortly afterwards, keeping the promise we made not to leave our farmers without a livestock market at any point in this process.

Steve Greenslade, project director said: "It is great news that KALM has now abandoned its intention to go to the Court of Appeal and challenge a judge's decision to reject their Judicial Review of the Minister's decision to repeal the ancient Abergavenny Acts.

"Further welcome news is that the owner of the shooting rights at the council owned Bryngwyn site has indicated he will not oppose the decision of the inspector to uphold the compulsory purchase of those rights by the council.

"We now have the 'green light' to proceed with the project to replace the out-dated Abergavenny market with a new 21st century facility at Bryngwyn.

"This has been a priority of the county council for many years and it is simply a shame that the Council has had to face considerable costs and waste so much time in defending the democratic decisions of elected councillors.

"Their resolve has been tested through the last two county council elections and polls carried out by the Abergavenny Chronicle have consistently confirmed the public desire to use the old livestock market site within the central shopping area for a supermarket.

"Once the new market is built and livestock sales transferred from Abergavenny, we should be in a position to hand the site over to Morrisons."

Bob Greenland, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration, said:

"I understand the only legal process now being pursued by KALM is against the development of a supermarket on the Abergavenny market site, where they are intending to go to the Court of Appeal and challenge a judge's decision to reject their Judicial Review.

"With the legal challenges to Bryngwyn and the repeal of the Abergavenny Acts at an end, surely KALM must now accept the livestock market will be moving from Abergavenny to Bryngwn later this year.

"As such, the 'Keep Abergavenny Livestock Market' group now appears to be just about launching a further legal challenge to the new supermarket which is strange given its name and stated aims.

"Perhaps this is not so odd however when you consider that some members of KALM are also prominent in the Friends of the Earth campaigning group who have voiced their opposition to supermarkets in the past."

Tom Davies, operations manager for Morgan Sindall, said: "We're pleased to be in a position to bring the livestock market and auction house to Monmouthshire.

"The modern facility is designed to best meet the needs of the farming community in the 21st century.

"Morgan Sindall has extensive experience in delivering a wide range of construction projects and is looking forward to working closely with Monmouthshire County Council on this significant development."