"Cut the bull and show us the proof" - Keetch (Bromsgrove Liberal Democrats)

Bromsgrove Liberal Democrats <raygeoffray@aol.com>

"Cut the bull and show us the proof" - Keetch

July 14, 2009 7:32 PM
Originally published by West Midlands Liberal Democrats

Cut the bull and show us the proof MP for Hereford Paul Keetch today called on Herefordshire Council to release details of the legal advice they have received over Hereford's new £10 million cattle market, so that the public can see their reasoning for stating that Hereford has to have a cattle market.

Commenting Mr Keetch said, "I have checked with the House of Commons Library Research Service and they have confirmed in a letter dated 10th April 2006 that the Hereford Markets Act 2003, which I instigated, "does not require the council to build a new market". It continues by stating that Article 4 means that "the Council may from time to time relocate the markets". Quite frankly the notion that Hereford has to have a cattle market is simply untrue. I feel that the good people of Hereford can think of better projects to go ahead with during these economically difficult times, projects that could bring more money into the local economy, instead of investing millions of pounds into a project which probably would bring no extra income into the city compared to the current market.

"In 2006 Shrewsbury opened a new 22-acres market which only cost £4.8million, so if we must go ahead and build a new market then why can't we have better value for money? Another alternative is to go to other markets, such as the ones in Ross-on-Wye and Ludlow which are both easy commutes from Hereford. Together these could take on more capacity from Hereford and hopefully offer jobs to any auctioneers who may have their jobs under threat.

"Despite Herefordshire Council saying that the market is enjoying a very successful period, nationally prime cattle markets are experiencing great difficulties. We have seen a 45 market net decline in the past nine years leaving only 88 prime cattle markets across the United Kingdom. Of the 11 new markets that have opened during this timeframe, none have been in the West Midlands and in fact we have seen Aberystwyth, Chester, Gloucester and Monmouth all close. I cannot understand why, when nearby markets such as those are closing, we can continue to press ahead with such a project for Herefordshire.

"I feel reminiscent of the WMD situation during the build up to the Iraq war as both that and the proposed new cattle market are predicated on a lie. I would call on the Council to make public the legal guidance that they have received or, if they really cannot for legal reasons, then at least they should make it known to the county's two MPs, so that we can ensure that this project would be in the best interests of Herefordshire."