One year since Cowbridge Cattle Market closed - what's happened since then?
By Ellyn Wright 1st Sep 2021
Today marks one year since Cowbridge's historic cattle market closed.
This time last year, the final sales were agreed before farmers and traders left the site for good.
The previous summer, the Council announced plans to turn the 200-year-old market into a car park.
The local authority said the lack of town centre parking was a long-standing problem and it wanted Cowbridge to be a "first class destination for shoppers and tourists".
It planned to spend £65,000 on a study into the car park's viability and the number of spaces needed.
Despite protests, the structure was dismantled; the final pieces were removed in November 2020.
Since then, the Vale of Glamorgan Council has announced plans to transform the site into a supermarket with a public car park "to improve the retail offer of Cowbridge town centre".
The decision has been met with mixed responses; while some are in favour of a more affordable supermarket option, others feel the space could be put to better use.
Vale MP Alun Cairns wrote to VOG Council leader Cllr Neil Moore to express his concerns and local MS Jane Hutt called for appropriate public consultation.
Opposition group Keep Cowbridge Special was established in response to the news and conducted public surveys to ask what residents think the site should be used for.
Suggestions included a school, car parking, a space for independent businesses like the GoodSheds in Barry, and a co-working site.
Cowbridge Chamber of Trade commissioned a retail impact assessment by Reeves Retail Planning Consultancy, with the town council and HRT Estate Agents also paying a third of the cost each.
The report examined planning policies, Cowbridge's retail needs, and the impact of the proposed supermarket development.
It concluded that there "is no evidence to support the Council's suggestion that there is a need for additional supermarket development in Cowbridge".
The Council has continued to reassure residents that any plans are subject to assessment.
Cllr Lis Burnett, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education, has said: "The Council is committed to regenerating the former Livestock Market site in Cowbridge and attracting a food retailer to this location in the future remains a possibility.
"However, community views on this subject are important and must be carefully assessed.
"To ensure we proceed with the correct course of action, it is prudent to take time to reflect on some alternative potential uses for this land before deciding on the best way forward.
"I'd like to thank the individuals that have taken the time to share their ideas with us.
"Ultimately, the correct use for the land will be the one that most benefits Cowbridge, while also being viable, affordable, deliverable and providing regeneration for this important part of the town."
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