Thrapston Rural Agricultural Centre relocation

The owners of Thrapston livestock market are unveiling plans to relocate to new purpose built facilities on the edge of the town, with the creation of the Thrapston Rural Agricultural Centre to serve the farming community within the region.

Henry H. Bletsoe & Son has identified a site close to the Primark distribution centre at Thrapston, which will allow for a development including a new livestock market building, offices and agricultural merchant retail units.

Thrapston has a long heritage of livestock marketing since the town was granted its market charter in 1205. The livestock market has been on its present site since 1871. A lot has changed over the past 140 years and the present market facilities are outdated, with limited lorry manoeuvring and parking as well as restricted amounts of penning.

The new facility represents a significant investment providing a modern facility designed to meet the future needs of the farming community. The design brings improvements to animal welfare as well as being a better facility for farmers and visitors.

Detailed information on the plans will be available at public exhibitions, which will take place on:

• Friday 15^th April at Titchmarsh clubroom, High Street, Titchmarsh, between 11.00am and 3.30pm

• Saturday 16^th April in the caf at the current livestock market, off High Street, Thrapston, between 9.00am and 2.00pm

Copies of an information leaflet will be available for people to provide feedback as part of public consultation.

David Bletsoe at Henry H. Bletsoe & Son said: Thrapston is the last market town in Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire still to have a livestock market. It is a vital facility serving the farming community, but it is outdated and restricted on its current site. The Rural Agricultural Centre is desperately needed to support the farming community. It is an excellent opportunity, which will allow Thrapston to continue as an important regional centre for agriculture.

He added: We hope that both the farming community and local residents will come and view the plans and support us with our proposals.

The relocation of the livestock market will allow for the regeneration of the town centre site. Sainsburys is looking to build a foodstore on the site and will be carrying out their own public consultation, they can be contacted on 0800 975 5299.