Councillors believe the �1.3m project is too expensive

Ceredigion Council intends to move the mart from its 1.5 acre site in Aberystwyth town centre so that new supermarkets can be built in its place.

But moving the council-owned mart to a new six-acre site at Lovesgrove two miles east of the seaside town would involve building a larger modern market costing �1.3m, according to mart developer Liberty Mercian.

The council believes this project is too expensive, and has given market operator, Aled Ellis, the chance to come up with a smaller-scale and cheaper scheme.

Councillors told me to draw up some plans for the new site and show them to the cabinet within a few weeks Aled Ellis, market operator

Ceredigion councillors met Mr Ellis - who believes a new mart would cost about �200,000 - to discuss the move on Monday.

"The current site conforms to Defra regulations so I don't understand why a like-for-like site cannot be built at Lovesgrove," said Mr Ellis.

Too expensive

"Councillors told me to draw up some plans for the new site and show them to the cabinet within a few weeks."

The mart developer is Shrewsbury-based company Liberty Mercian.

The �1.3m mart redevelopment scheme would involve the erection of a purpose-built building, parking provision, an appropriate drainage network and a covered area for animals as well as on-site grazing facilities.

"Markets are being rationalised with many closing all over the country," said company director, Chris Towers.

"My opinion is that you couldn't build a like-for-like mart now because the nature of marts has changed due to the buying power of supermarkets."

Farmers believe it is vital that a mart should still be held in the area

But council leader Dai Lloyd Evans believes Liberty Mercian's proposal is too expensive.

"We have asked Mr Ellis to draw up plans for a more modest scheme because everyone considers the cost of the one proposed by Liberty Mercian is too high," he said.

"There is no need for a mart that size when you consider the throughput of animals at Aberystwyth.

"Consequently, we have asked Mr Ellis to consult with Defra, the Environment Agency and our planning department before he gets back to us by the middle of July."

Philip Ellis, the county council's development manager, said the site of the current mart would be developed to provide new stores for Kwik Save and Somerfield as well as providing an extra 100 car parking spaces for the Somerfield store.

The existing Somerfield store in the town would be occupied by a major non-food retailer.

Mr Ellis agreed that a full-scale replacement of the type proposed by Liberty Mercian was expensive.

"The scheme has progressed to an extent that the council has to consider where to go from here," he added.

The mart, which is held every Wednesday, attracts farmers from Ceredigion, Powys and Gwynedd with up to 3,000 ewes being brought for sale every week.

Local farmer Tegwyn Lewis said it was important that a mart continued at Aberystwyth.

"We are only just getting over foot-and-mouth so it is vital for farmers to have a mart and the county council should re-invest in a new one," he said.