News » Farmers and the Smithfield development.
Posted April 26, 2008 8:23 am by admin
Posted under: Local Economy
How does the local farming community feel about the Liberty/Mercian OCA Smithfield development? How will you be affected? What effect will a redeveloped market have on your livelihoods and business practices? What plans have farmers using the Smithfield seen for a new OCA market and what is your reaction if you have had sight of plans? How will it operate in terms of scale compared to it’s current size on the site? And what consultation process has been carried out with the local NFU and individuals?
OS21 would be interested to know. Leave a comment here or you may contact us via the e mail address on the contact page. Thank you.
At the AGM of Oswestry Town Council on Monday, a Councilor said that their proposed development MUST go ahead to safeguard the future of the cattle market.
A few nights later when two farmers were asked for their views of the proposed modernization work, they said:
• They didn’t know what it entailed as they had NOT BEEN CONSULTED.
• They had no idea why the cattle market needs modernizing.
• The land they will be left with will be way TOO SMALL.
• There will be no room for the lorry-wash which takes a lot of space, nor for the parking of cars and lorries and they wondered if the field adjacent would be purchased for this.
• Although there is wasted space now, when they have a main sale the site is full.
• If they reduce the size of the market it’ll take ages for everyone to get in as there would then only be one gate and they have to do lots of paperwork as they come in. The lorries will be queuing in the road.
• They would have to get rid of the bar and cafeteria – these are VERY important as the many isolated farmers get a chance to socialize.
• Clearly it would be a problem if there was foot and mouth.
• It’ll kill the cattle market as there won’t be enough space. This means the market won’t be able to dictate the price of meat – the supermarkets will. That’s what happens.
• Basically it will run down the market, not save it. IN A FEW YEARS IT WILL CLOSE.
Is this part of a deliberate plan to move operations entirely to Shrewsbury and Welshpool, freeing up the rest of the land for a larger, very lucrative, retail park? Ask yourselves – who gets the proceeds of the sale of the land?
Protection of the local farmers is a very emotive point. We are all manipulated by this and it appears that it will not in fact help them.
I have been told that the ‘New Market’ will operate on 3 days of the week. I don’t know what effect this will have on its business, its profitability or its competitiveness with Shrewsbury and Welshpool markets. What is obvious is that OCM has lost market share to both the above in the past decade.
I am one of the Partner Auctioneers at Oswestry Smithfield and read with interest the comments posted on your website regarding our current operations on the site and how the proposed new development will affect us.
First of all I am surprised at the quotations attributed to two Farmers and will endeavor to address them as listed.
There has been and is an ongoing consultation process with our clients at the Smithfield, and we have published the proposals for all to see.
The proposed development will enable Oswestry Town to continue its long tradition of ensuring that it has a vibrant, up to date Smithfield capable of competing with the best. In the past the Auction was held on the site that is now Central Car Park and, in 1969, the Town Council and Auctioneers in partnership opened the current Livestock Centre that was very forward thinking and modern. We want to continue that tradition and move with the times and again invest in the future of Farming and Agriculture in the area, providing many needed modern features including digital display, modern IT links to Farms and Abattoirs, improved handling and penning facilities that look to the future for both health and safety issues and animal welfare. Increased lairage and feeding accommodation together with new Sale Ring, completely new Lorry Wash and Cleansing and Disinfectant facilities to meet modern and future regulations will also be part of the scheme.
The reduced area upon which we will be operating is still approximately 16 acres – at least as large as any other Market in the region and larger than some of the modern recently built or proposed Markets that will be our competition. We want to operate on a smaller site because it enables us to provide a much better user friendly service with greater interaction between sections and staff. Both Farmers and buyers will be able to keep in touch with all that goes on which is not possible at the moment on our current sprawling facilities that was designed in a different age, prior to BSE and other major factors that have changed the face and mode of operation of Farming over the last 15 years or so.
We mainly utilize one entrance gate now, and have done so for some years because it gives us greater control of vehicle movements that is a requirement since Foot and Mouth 2001. The new facility will allow vehicles to queue within the new Market site so there will be no need for vehicles to stack up on the road – indeed, the space for waiting vehicles that enter will be much longer than now, with special waiting lanes designed into the new proposals.
We have paid particular attention to the loading and unloading arrangements for Livestock and are delighted to say that they will be excellent allowing our staff to fully handle and monitor all movements in a very user friendly and efficient way.
We Auctioneers are very excited about these proposals and in conjunction with our partners, The Town Council, are extremely grateful to have such excellent development partners in the form of Liberty Mercian on board with us. Oswestry Market has performed extremely well in recent times, moving ahead of our local competition in both throughput and trade. The recent restrictions associated with Bluetongue are a current limitation but soon the whole country will be under similar movement controls that will return us to a level playing field. The Smithfield has an excellent future and these plans will help take us forward to another level, underpinning our competitiveness for the future.
This firm of Auctioneers have operated in conjunction with the Town Council for over 100 years and here’s to the next 100 !
Yours sincerely
John H Brereton FRICS
To John Brereton.
IOS21 is gratified on two counts. Firstly that you have taken the time and trouble to write at length here. It opens the debate and goes some way to explaining this issue from the point of view of OCA. It is early days for this website and the much needed debate about the Smithfield development. Particularly in the absence of any authentic public consultation process before or since the understood signing of agreements between the Town Council, OCA and Liberty Mercian in April last year. Your willingness to engage in the debate here and at this time lends weight and credibility to this medium and the concerns OS21 feel.
Secondly, OS21 is pleased that the plans and hopes for Oswestry Market are so optimistic. It has long been an important presence historically as well as an economic and social asset to the town and the wider community.
OS21 does recognise the reticence that the farming community in general might feel about speaking out expressing doubt or concern about an issue that affects their livelihoods, and indeed, that farming does not often offer the luxury of sitting at a computer debating the issue oner the internet.
However, there is a feeling, as expressed in the comment to which you were responding, that there as been little or no consultation with the users of Oswestry Market and, consequently that there are considerable doubts and concerns about how the redeveloped market will work with their needs and requirements in mind, about the scale of the site, about bio-security in the event of another foot and mouth outbreak in the light of it’s proximity to a busy hypermarket and retail park, and considerable dismay, not to say anger, at the lack of communication and consultation between Oswestry Market and it’s users.
This last point echoes the feelings that a considerable proportion of the community in Oswestry have about this whole issue. There is a distinct sense that this deal was considered signed, sealed and delivered at least a year ago by those involved in it, and that The Town Council, already one of the wealthiest in the country, OCA, Liberty Mercian all get their needs met without adequately considering the critical issues surrounding what will happen to the town when it’s principle economic retail zone is sent out almost to the by-pass. What happens to such a car dependent development (why almost 900 parking spaces if not?) when petrol hits £6-£7-£8-£9-£10 a gallon? Would not strategic individual retail and small business developments nearer and within the town not have the effect of creating greater consumer choice and of strengthening the community as a whole?
As I say, OS21 is pleased to see you here. We aim to monitor and campaign in a measured and considered manner and would welcome the views of members of the farming community who could express either a sense of being reassured, or of their concerns, after reading your contribution.
Dear Mr Brereton,
1 Have the public been misled yet again? The press and publicity for this development all state that there will be 20 acres kept for the livestock market and 16 acres developed as a retail site. In your above letter, you say that the livestock market will be operating over “approximately 16 acres” (making the Retail Park 20 acres.)
2 I understand OCA have considered, and may still consider, re-locating to a site across the by-pass. This would free the remaining land for another lucrative deal. How long before the Retail Park takes up all 36 acres?
3 I understand that you have chosen the lucrative Liberty Mercian deal over other offers for housing development and from Richard Burbidges (which I consider a far more appropriate use of the land). Is it fair to say that OCA has the Town Council over a barrel with this deal, as nothing can happen without their complete agreement?
4 We all know how devastating the last outbreak of foot and mouth was. I understand that there is no insurance cover against future outbreaks, and that another serious outbreak would close the Smithfield Market permanently.
Can you confirm this?
Alan
I have talked to a few farmers and there is a general feeling that the Oswestry Smithfield is not what it was, particularly regarding milking cattle. Welshpool market was described as ‘humming’ with specialist sales and plans for expansion.
Chas