COUNTY civic chiefs could face legal action over controversial plans to sell Dorset’s only traditional livestock market to a budget supermarket operator for 1.9 million pounds.

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Shaftesbury Cattle Market could soon be a supermarket

Shaftesbury Town Council said that they are seeking legal advice explore the possibility of legal action to stop the sale of Shaftesbury Cattle Market by North Dorset District Council following a public meeting in Shaftesbury on Tuesday.

Martin Hamilton, NDDCs strategic director for economy, assets and infrastructure was grilled by community groups and residents in the town hall called by the town council to challenge NDDC’s decision to sell the market site to a supermarket chain.

A spokesman for Shaftesbury Town Council, said: "The Council has resolved to allocate up to £10,000 for legal and professional advice on this matter, delegating the detail to the Clerk in consultation with Councillors Taylor, Cook and Lewer.

"Following the early indications from yesterday, the councillors have met with the clerk on June 12 and are preparing the appropriate questions and instructions."

It is understood that the district council has argued to sell the site to LIDL for £1.9 million to progress development plans for a new store in the town, however LIDL and NDDC have refused to comment on the sale or the proposed legal action by the council.

Mike Madgewick, chairman of the Shaftesbury Civic Society said that the sale was progressed without consultation with Shaftesbury residents or stakeholders and that proceeds from the sale would not be guaranteed to stay within or benefit Shaftesbury.

Southern Counties Auctioneers which run the market have leased the site off Christy’s Lane from NDDC since 1967, however, the livestock market in Shaftesbury has been going on since the 19th century and the existing market can trace its history back to 1902 when John Jeffery began an open-air market in Bell Street.

Currently, the market hosts dairy cattle sales periodically, as well as weekly calf and beef store sales, as well as an Aberdeen Angus show and sale takes place each April.

As previously reported in May, the site, located at Christy’s Lane, had been marketed covertly by NDDC and Southern Counties and had attracted bids from a number of providers of retail, hospitality and leisure services.

The council then announced it is going to be ‘a leading supermarket chain’ but did not reveal the name of it, however, Lidl are thought to be the store involved.

Credit: Bournemouth Echo