SIR,

A Sad Day for Bryngwyn.

Monmouthshire County Council bought land at High House Farm, Bryngwyn in July 2006. They announced it as a potential site for a new regional cattle market. As details emerged it became obvious that this was the wrong development in the wrong place. The scheme, on a greenfield site, is being paid for with public money when more and better could be achieved by the private sector.

As a Bryngwyn resident I and others became concerned and questioned the council on their plans. Following their inadequate responses the Bryngwyn Rural Community Action Group (BRCAG) was formed.

We have campaigned for the past six and a half years for a more appropriate market in a better location.

The campaign against the Bryngwyn market was supported by hundreds of local residents, all the local community councils, the local estates and landowners, and many visitors to the area who were against the development. Over three hundred farmers who use the current market signed a petition against the move from Abergavenny. Support was given by members of all political parties with South Wales MPs and AMs openly giving support. The campaign won every argument and every battle. Unfortunately we lost the war. The bulldozers moved in last week.

In retrospect it was always going to be a hard campaign to win. Monmouthshire County Council bought and retains ownership of the land as well as being the developer, the planning authority, the highway authority and is financially underwriting the market operations into the future. They were also able and willing to spend many thousand of pounds on legal fees to defend two judicial reviews and a compulsory purchase order public inquiry.

The whole process was pushed through by a small cohort of councillors abetted by a small group of eager council officers. Hiding behind 'the democratic process', no deviation and no meaningful debate or compromise was allowed. Bryngwyn will soon have a cattle market that is unwanted by the majority, and may well prove to be inadequate and could need further investment.

On a positive note, I wish the farmers well, although I believe they are being ill-served by this development.

Finally, I would like to thank the many hundreds of people who supported our campaign against the Bryngwyn Market. Some gave money generously to pay for solicitors and barristers. Some gave unstintingly of their time and professional advice. Many gave friendship and moral support throughout. We stood for what we believed in and unfortunately lost. That is better than to have done nothing.

Stuart Willcock

(BRCAG)